Air Force ready to evacuate Thais from South Korea in case of war

BANGKOK, April 2 (TNA) - The Royal Thai Air Force has announced that it would evacuate Thai nationals from South Korea within 48 hours if a war broke out between North Korea and South Korea. Thai Air Force Commander-in-Chief Air Chief Marshal Prajin Jantong confirmed on Tuesday that the Royal Thai Air Force has prepared C-130 transport aircraft and Airbus 310 aircraft to bring Thais in South Korea back home within 48 hours in case that a war erupted in the Korean Peninsula. The Thai air force chief acknowledged that ongoing tensions in the Korean Peninsula affect security, political and economic conditions of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in which Thailand is a member country. The Thai air force commander-in-chief said he does not want Thai people to panic although he cannot predict whether North Korea would dare launch a war, as there are many factors involved. Pyongyang declared a "state of war" with Seoul last Saturday. Tensions have been sparked in the Korean Peninsula since North Korea's new leader Kim Jong-un ordered a third nuclear weapon test in February 2013, breaching UN sanctions against Pyongyang, while there have also been a series of joint military drills between the United States and South Korea. (TNA)