South Korean soldiers with 20mm vulcan cannon take part in an anti-drone drill in Yangju, South Korea, in this handout picture provided by the South Korean Defence Ministry on December 29, 2022. The South Korean Defence Ministry/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
SEOUL — South Korea will conduct its first nationwide air defense drills in six years on Wednesday to address the increasing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea. As part of the annual Ulchi civil defense exercises, pedestrians will be required to seek shelter and drivers will be asked to pull over in certain areas.
The drills, conducted in conjunction with the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills involving South Korean and U.S. troops, aim to enhance response capabilities to a potential North Korean attack or other contingencies. At 2 p.m., an air-raid siren will sound, prompting people to evacuate the streets for 15 minutes before the alert is lifted, according to the Ministry of Interior and Safety.
During the drills, pedestrians must immediately seek shelter in designated areas or nearby underground spaces, while drivers in approximately 200 areas across the country must pull over to the side of the road. Nearly 500 public facilities, including supermarkets and movie theaters, will guide their occupants to evacuate. Medical institutions and public transportation will operate as usual.
In anticipation of the drills, community centers near apartment complexes in Seoul have already announced the exercise through loudspeakers, instructing residents to follow the given instructions, which will also be broadcast on the radio.
The Ministry of Interior and Safety stated that residents in regions bordering North Korea may face additional scenarios during the drills, such as chemical, biological, and radiological training, including wearing gas masks and using emergency food rations.
The Ulchi civil defense exercises were initiated in 1969 after North Korean commandos raided the presidential compound in Seoul. The country has approximately 17,000 shelters installed nationwide. However, air defense training has not taken place since 2017.
Last May, Seoul faced criticism when it issued a false air raid alarm and evacuation warning following North Korea’s failed satellite launch. This incident caused panic among residents despite the fact that the capital was far from the rocket’s trajectory.
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Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
