South Korea will go on maximum alert for next month’s G20 summit in Seoul against any possible terror attacks or disruption by North Korea, military officials said yesterday.
Tens of thousands of police and troops will be on guard in major public areas and naval and air forces will be on patrol as the country gears up for its biggest appearance on the world stage since the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
South Korea will be hosting world leaders including US President Barack Obama for the gathering of the G20 rich and emerging economies on Nov. 11 and Nov. 12.
“The military alert level for the G20 will be raised to the highest level later this month,” a spokesman for the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.
Police have already drawn up strict security measures, including the creation of a special unit to protect G20 leaders and surrounding the venue in southern Seoul with security fences more than 2m high.
“The highest-level military preparation involves enhanced joint reconnaissance efforts [between South Korea and the US] and higher alertness for military provocations and possible infiltration attempts by land, sky and sea,” a JCS statement said.
The military is in training for possible scenarios, including North Korean “provocations” across the tense sea border or attacks carried out by ultra light aircraft, the JCS said.
“Troops will be deployed to major public facilities and mountain areas near the venue of the summit in advance,” it said.
Naval forces and the coast guard will also patrol sea areas near major airports, monitoring sea vessels and keeping a lookout for submarines.
South Korea blames North Korea for a torpedo attack on one of its warships in March that cost the lives of 46 sailors, although Pyongyang has denied any responsibility.
Air defense artilleries and air patrols will stay on alert, while the military will share intelligence information with US forces stationed in the country, including information on potential attacks, the JCS said. About 50,000 police including 20,000 riot police are expected to be on security duty during the two-day summit, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said.
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