South Korea is set to conduct its first nationwide air defense drill today, Wednesday, in six years, amidst increasing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea. Participants will be required to take shelter, while drivers must stop in designated areas during the drill. This exercise is a key component of the annual “Ulchi” civil defense maneuvers, which coincide with the "Ulchi Freedom Shield" exercises initiated by South Korean and American forces on Monday, aimed at enhancing response capabilities against any North Korean attack or other emergencies.
The Ministry of Interior and Safety announced that air raid sirens will sound at 2 PM, urging people to refrain from going outdoors for about 15 minutes before easing the state of alert. Pedestrians are instructed to head directly to a designated shelter or a nearby underground space, while drivers in approximately 200 areas nationwide must pull over to the roadside. People in nearly 500 stores, cinemas, and other public facilities will be guided to evacuate.
Medical institutions and public transportation will operate normally. Some centers close to population clusters in Seoul announced the scheduled drills via loudspeakers on Tuesday, requesting residents to follow the instructions that will be broadcasted. The announcements stated: "The drills aim to effectively respond to a real air raid. Please do not be alarmed and seek shelter nearby."
The ministry indicated that residents in some areas near North Korea can expect additional scenarios, including chemical, biological, and radiological training, as well as mask-wearing for gas protection and the use of emergency food supplies. The Ulchi civil defense drills began in 1969 following a raid by North Korean special forces on the presidential compound in Seoul. There are approximately 17,000 shelters across the country, which has a population of 52 million. However, air defense drills have not been conducted since 2017. Seoul faced criticism in late May after issuing a false alert about an air raid and evacuation when North Korea failed to launch a satellite, causing panic among some residents despite the capital being far from the missile's trajectory.
