SEOUL: South Korea on Tuesday conducted its first air raid exercise in six years on Wednesday in response to escalating nuclear and missile threats from North Korea. North Korea is preparing for the launch of a space rocket carrying a satellite.
The nationwide drill involved the activation of civil defense sirens and mobilization of 216 vehicles, symbolizing the evacuation of civilians during emergency scenarios, as reported by Yonhap News Agency based in Seoul.
South Korea Air Drills Aim to Prepare Citizens for Crisis
Approximately 480 versatile facilities participated in the exercise, while vital services such as hospitals, subways, trains, aircraft, and ferry operations continued without disruption. Notably, the drill excluded the 57 regions designated as special disaster zones due to recent heavy rainfall and Typhoon Khanun.
Last year, around 17,000 locations, including apartment basements and subway stations, were designated as shelters for defense drills. The 20-minute drill was part of the larger Ulchi civil defense training, spanning four days. This coincided with a joint military maneuver between South Korea and the US, known as the Ulchi Freedom Shield.
