“Thoroughly prepared for multiple crises such as the North’s provocations and natural disasters”

Minister Shin Won Sik hosts emergency conference of top commanders

Measures must be taken for sudden flooding from North Korean rivers and landmines being swept away

Methods must be developed to mitigate damage while ensuring safety

Defense Minister Shin Won Sik holds an emergency conference of commanders regarding North Korea's provocations and natural disasters with the chiefs of staff of Army, Navy, and Air Force, and the commander of the Marine Corps, as well as commanders of corps or higher, participating by teleconference on July 17 at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

The Defense Ministry decided to adopt a firm preemptive response posture to deal with various contingencies such as North Korea's provocations and natural disasters. In particular, the Defense Ministry is taking precautions against the possibility of sudden flooding caused by the North's deliberate release of water, and mines being washed away by heavy rain in the rivers shared by the two Koreas.

The Defense Ministry announced on July 17 that Defense Minister Shin Won Sik held an emergency conference of commanders on the North's provocations and natural disasters at the Defense Ministry in Yongsan-gu, Seoul with the chiefs of staff of the Army, Navy, and Air Force and the commander of the Marine Corps and commanders of corps and above by teleconference.

The purpose of the conference was to acknowledge the current serious situation, including continued provocative threats from North Korea and extreme weather conditions, and to determine the immediate response posture of the units.

The meeting assessed possible types of provocations following North Korea's latest provocative threats and the impact of summer weather on military operations and discussed the military's firm readiness posture.

They also established a response posture for various disasters amidst unprecedented torrential rains and identified ways to support relief efforts while ensuring safety.

Minister Shin Won Sik said: "We are now facing multiple crises, as we have to counter North Korea's provocative threats and prepare for unpredictable challenges from natural disasters. In this situation, unit commanders at various levels must be fully prepared and vigilant, while closely monitoring the situation at their posts with firm determination."

He urged unit commanders to "give top priority to the lives and safety of people and soldiers and to pay attention to even the smallest details, such as providing troops with sufficient rest and food during missions."

The Defense Ministry had previously improved guidelines on military support for civilians and regulations on disaster preparedness. On December 31, 2023, the Ministry issued the "Safety Manual on Defense Support for Civilians in Disasters," which identifies risk factors by type of disaster and specifies measures, and incorporated the manual into the Directive on Defense Disaster Management.

With command letter No. 6 of May 14, and the conference of top commanders hosted by the Defense Ministry on May 24 to prepare for disasters in the summer of 2024, the Defense Ministry urged the establishment of a proactive posture toward disasters and provision of support to civilians while fully ensuring the safety of soldiers.

By Ah-Mi, Cho <[email protected]>

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