Capital Defense Command to run annual defense drills from Monday to Wednesday

Capital Defense Command soldiers train during a military drill held in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul, on April 25. [NEWS1]

The Capital Defense Command and Capital Corps are set to conduct joint defense drills from Monday through Wednesday in parts of Seoul and Gyeonggi.

According to the South Korean Army on Sunday, the annual drills will focus on enhancing the on-site response capabilities of all national defense elements and protection capabilities by training under various scenarios, including drone attacks.

The joint drills will also involve the police and fire agencies, as well as local governments like Seoul and Anyang in Gyeonggi. The military aims to establish an integrated response system and verify the effectiveness of operational plans through maneuver exercises against threats such as terrorist attacks on bases and critical national facilities, drone provocations and other unidentified threats.

The military plans to operate helicopters and drones, and deploy operational personnel and equipment in parts of Seoul and Gyeonggi during the drill.

“We ask for the understanding and cooperation of residents, as the drills may cause temporary road congestion and noise,” a military official said.

The Capital Defense Command conducted joint defense drills in Seoul last December under scenarios of drone attacks and shelling by North Korea.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]