Korean special forces on Nov. 21 hold a demonstration of an anti-terrorism operation at BEXCO four days before the 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit.
By Jeon Han and Lee Jihae
Photos = The Protection and Security Office
Korean special forces on Nov. 21 held a national anti-terrorism drill at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO) four days before the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-ROK (Republic of Korea) Commemorative Summit.
Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, concurrently chairman of the exercise, Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don and about 500 officials from nine public organizations including the Ministry of National Defense, the Korean National Police Agency, the Korea Coast Guard and Busan Metropolitan City Fire and Disaster Headquarters attended the drill. They also checked the capacity of government branch offices to simultaneously respond to terrorist acts.
Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon on Nov. 21 shakes hands with special forces after seeing a national anti-terrorism drill at BEXCO.
“After watching your training today, I became confident that the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit and Mekong-ROK Summit next week will be the safest conferences in history.”
“The upcoming special summit is the largest multilateral international conference to be held in Busan, no, in Korea, so we must make it safe and perfect with no room for even a single error.”
Lee added, “Busan successfully hosted both the 2005 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit and the 2014 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit. I believe that the city will utilize its experience and capability to make the ASEAN-ROK and Mekong-ROK summits next week the most successful international conferences in history.”
Oh said, “The commemorative summit will help Busan become the bridgehead of the (Korean) government’s New Southern Policy.”
“Busan will be a hub connecting ASEAN – the world’s fastest growing region – and Korea.”
The mayor added, “I ask all organizations and citizens to unite in making Busan the world’s safest city from Nov. 25, the first day of the commemorative summit, to Nov. 27, when the inaugural Mekong-ROK summit ends.”
A SWAT team on Nov. 21 demonstrates a response to a vehicle-related terrorist attack at BEXCO as part of this year’s national anti-terrorism drill.
Special forces on Nov. 21 show how they would infiltrate a building occupied by terrorists at BEXCO as part of this year’s national anti-terrorism drill.
Firemen on Nov. 21 hold a mock evacuation four days before the 2019 ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit at BEXCO as part of this year’s national anti-terrorism drill.
hanjeon@korea.kr
