SOUTH KOREA: South Korea is preparing to conduct its first nationwide air defence exercises in six years on Wednesday amid increasing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea, with pedestrians needing to seek shelter and drivers being requested to pull over in certain areas.
The drills play a crucial role in the yearly Ulchi civil defence exercises, which run concurrently with the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises, which South Korean and U.S. troops started on Monday, to enhance preparedness for a North Korean attack or other potential situations.
At 2 p.m., an air-raid siren is scheduled to go off, prompting individuals to clear the streets for approximately 15 minutes, the interior and safety ministry said.
Passengers are required to proceed to specified shelters or nearby underground areas. Meanwhile, motorists in approximately 200 regions across the country are expected to park their vehicles at the roadside. Additionally, individuals present in nearly 500 supermarkets, cinemas, and other public establishments will receive instructions to leave the premises.
Public transit and medical facilities will function normally.
On Tuesday, some community centres in Seoul near apartment buildings used loudspeakers to alert locals to the upcoming drills and beg them to heed the orders that would be broadcast on the radio.
“The drills are meant to effectively respond to an actual air raid. Don’t be surprised, and please find a nearby shelter,” said the announcement.
Residents in some areas bordering North Korea should be prepared for new eventualities, the ministry stated, including chemical, biological, and radiological training, utilising gas masks, and using emergency food supplies.
In the wake of a raid by North Korean commandos into the Seoul presidential compound, the Ulchi civil defence exercises were started in 1969. In the 52 million-person nation, there are around 17,000 shelters installed.
But since 2017, there hasn’t been any air defence training.
Seoul came under fire in late May after issuing a fake air raid alarm and evacuation warning in response to North Korea’s unsuccessful satellite launch, even though the capital was miles away from the rocket’s course, causing panic among some inhabitants.
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