South Korea Stages Mass Civil Defense Drills

South Korea staged a civil defense drill on Wednesday. It’s the largest-ever civil defense drill against a possible North Korean attack.

In the heart of Seoul, a warning siren signaled the start of the drill. Drivers stopped their vehicles on the roads, and pedestrians slowly walked into a subway shelter.

[Kim Hwang-Sik, South Korean Prime Minister]:
"To be prepared against North Korea's surprise attacks, all citizens should make themselves familiar with what they must do during the attacks."

Students at a middle school in Seoul were put through an evacuation drill.

About 600 students wore facemasks to protect them against gas and smoke, before making their way to the subway station.

In Paju, near the border, residents of an apartment complex staged an anti-biochemical exercise.

[Park Cheong-woong, Chief Firefighter]:
"The purpose of the drill is to evacuate the residents safely when our enemy attacks here with biochemical weapons and we are also practicing with all related organizations on how to cope with the situation."

South Korea has conducted monthly civil defense training nationwide since 1975 to be prepared against possible North Korean attacks.

Tensions are high on the peninsula after North Korea fired artillery shells at Yeonpyeong Island in November, killing four people.