ID :
205714
Wed, 09/07/2011 - 09:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/205714
The shortlink copeid
Visiting foreign leaders to ride in S. Korean-made bulletproof car
SEOUL, Sept. 7 (Yonhap) -- Foreign leaders visiting South Korea will soon be able to ride in a locally made bulletproof vehicle after the country's foreign ministry adds one to its fleet later this year, a ministry official said Wednesday.
"Given that, until now, all of our bulletproof cars were produced overseas, buying one that was domestically produced has symbolic meaning," the ministry official said, asking for anonymity. "We took various factors into consideration, including price and technical aspects."
The ministry plans to buy the luxury car Equus made by South Korea's top automaker Hyundai Motor Co. in November, and put it to use during next year's nuclear security summit in Seoul, among other events. The two-day summit is expected to bring together more than 50 heads of state in March.
Until now, the ministry has operated three foreign-made bulletproof vehicles -- two Cadillacs and one Mercedes Benz.
These cars are built to resist machine gun fire and drive at speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour even on a flat tire, which could be caused by a grenade explosion.
"Given that, until now, all of our bulletproof cars were produced overseas, buying one that was domestically produced has symbolic meaning," the ministry official said, asking for anonymity. "We took various factors into consideration, including price and technical aspects."
The ministry plans to buy the luxury car Equus made by South Korea's top automaker Hyundai Motor Co. in November, and put it to use during next year's nuclear security summit in Seoul, among other events. The two-day summit is expected to bring together more than 50 heads of state in March.
Until now, the ministry has operated three foreign-made bulletproof vehicles -- two Cadillacs and one Mercedes Benz.
These cars are built to resist machine gun fire and drive at speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour even on a flat tire, which could be caused by a grenade explosion.
