By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter



Maj. Gen. Seo Jin-hyun

The military will provide an ``impregnable’’ security posture until the last minute of this Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum thwarting any potential terror attack, an Army general said.
Maj. Gen. Seo Jin-hyun, 53, commander of the 53rd Army Division in Pusan (Busan), said he is confident that the ongoing joint operations of military and security agencies will ensure a successful hosting of the international event.

``Since the announcement of Pusan’s successful bid for the APEC summit in April last year, our soldiers, regardless of rank, have conducted intensive anti-terror training drills to make the summit successful,’’ Seo said in a recent interview with The Korea Times.

Seo’s division is now in charge of ground operations for potential terrorist attacks during the eight-day event, in cooperation with units of the Navy and Air Force. Seo heads a military preparation committee for APEC, which was launched last January.

The two-star general said his division engaged in scores of preliminary simulations under which soldiers prepared with 10 contingencies and scenarios.

Based on terror alerts provided by the National Intelligence Service (NIS), the ground forces carry out joint anti-terror operations backed up by air and naval support, he noted.



Soldiers perform a drill to prepare for possible terrorist attacks during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, at Taegu International Airport in the southeastern city of Taegu last week.
/ Yonhap


The focus of the joint training is to protect key facilities, including the main summit venue of the BEXCO, and mass transit systems such as Pusan’s Kimhae Airport, the official gate to the southern port city, and subway stations.
``Our division has know-how of anti-terror security measures as we underwent high-profile international events in recent years, including the World Cup and Asian Games in 2002,’’ Seo said. ``We’re fully ready to counter any terrorists’ attempts to disrupt this international gathering perfectly and swiftly.’’

About 46,000 security officers from the military, police and the NIS will be deployed around summit venues and hotels used by the 21 APEC leaders and many business CEOs, building a ``three-fold’’ security shield line.

Agents of the Presidential Security Service are to provide close-range escorts to VIPs, while the police are tasked with safeguarding the area within a 500-meter radius of summit venues and VIP-hotels. The military is taking charge of security at distances between 500 meters and 1.5 kilometers of subjects.

To foil sea-based terror attacks, an underwater demolitions team (UDT) is being positioned in the waters off Tongbaek Island, where the summit venue Nurimaru APEC House is located.

Some 40 patrol boats equipped with advanced submarine detection sensors are operating 24 hours, along with Navy destroyers and a U.S aircraft carrier in the East Sea.

An airborne early warning system and an F-16 fighter squadron is also providing ``impenetrable’’ air security, while no-fly zone is designated over the summit venues, Air Force officials said.

The security level is expected to be at its highest Thursday, when President Roh Moo-hyun meets with U.S. President George W. Bush to discuss ways to resolve North Korea’s nuclear issue.

Terror analysts warn this APEC summit could be a potential target for a terrorist attack by al-Qaida, given South Korea maintains the third largest troop deployment in Iraq, following the U.S. and Britain.

The 3,260-strong Zaytun Unit is stationed in the northern Iraqi town of Irbil on a humanitarian and reconstruction mission.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr