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South Korea plans terrorism drills ahead of Iraq move
Seoul, Mar 18: South Korea will stage anti-terrorism drills as part of boosted security measures against possible attacks linked to the country`s decision to send more troops to Iraq, the government said today.
Seoul, Mar 18: South Korea will stage anti-terrorism drills as part of boosted security measures against possible attacks linked to the country's decision to send more troops to Iraq, the government said today.
Acting President Goh Kun ordered heightened security measures yesterday, saying the country was a major potential terrorism target because of its support for the US-led war in Iraq.
''The government decided to order all ministries and departments to strengthen security checks and counter-terror and security-inspection activities on public transport,'' the government said in statement after ministers met to discuss enhanced measures.
''Following these orders, the construction ministry, Korean national railroad, and police agencies decided to hold joint emergency counter-terrorism training for public transport systems,'' it said. Seoul will also realise more with other countries. Train bombs killed more than 200 people in Spain last Thursday, and that attack looks increasingly like an al-Qaeda operation. France said on Tuesday it had received threats of attacks by another shadowy Islamist group.
There has been no known threat to South Korea, where 37,000 US troops are based to deter the North, but Goh said yesterday countries involved in Iraq needed to be wary.
''We need to be very seriously prepared,'' Goh said, according to his spokesman. South Korea is sending more than 3,000 troops – half of them combat-ready force-protection troops -- to Iraq next month to join some 600 medics and engineers already there.
Bureau Report
''The government decided to order all ministries and departments to strengthen security checks and counter-terror and security-inspection activities on public transport,'' the government said in statement after ministers met to discuss enhanced measures.
''Following these orders, the construction ministry, Korean national railroad, and police agencies decided to hold joint emergency counter-terrorism training for public transport systems,'' it said. Seoul will also realise more with other countries. Train bombs killed more than 200 people in Spain last Thursday, and that attack looks increasingly like an al-Qaeda operation. France said on Tuesday it had received threats of attacks by another shadowy Islamist group.
There has been no known threat to South Korea, where 37,000 US troops are based to deter the North, but Goh said yesterday countries involved in Iraq needed to be wary.
''We need to be very seriously prepared,'' Goh said, according to his spokesman. South Korea is sending more than 3,000 troops – half of them combat-ready force-protection troops -- to Iraq next month to join some 600 medics and engineers already there.
Bureau Report