S. Korea beefs up safety measures ahead of summit with ASEAN

JEJU, May 31 (Yonhap) -- Police and security officials said Sunday they are
stepping up efforts to guard against any possible contingencies ahead of the
summit talks between leaders of South Korea and the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Heads of state from South Korea and 10 ASEAN members will attend the summit on
the southern resort island of Jeju, an event that marks the 20th anniversary of
their "dialogue partnership." The two-day summit will kick off on Monday.
"We are closely cooperating with related agencies to establish multi-dimensional
security on the sea, ground and in the sky," said a special task force headed by
the chief of the Presidential Security Service. The special security force
includes officials from the National Intelligence Service.
The summit between South Korea and ASEAN is expected to draw around 2,000 people,
including hundreds of journalists. They will discuss economic cooperation and
consolidate ties in other areas. ASEAN is comprised of Brunei, Cambodia,
Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and
Vietnam.
Security takes on even more importance as the summit is being held amid
heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea recently conducted a
second nuclear test in defiance of repeated international warnings.
Jeju police said all personnel are on alert to brace for any possible accidents
during the summit talks. A total of 5,000 police officers dispatched from across
the nation are patrolling the island.
Air defense was also beefed up, with a short-range surface-to-air missile
launcher being deployed at the International Convention Center, the site of the
meeting, officials said.
Safety measures against chemical and radioactive attacks were strengthened, with
police running high-tech chemical detectors that can spot 41 hazardous materials.
Radiation-detecting gates were established and bomb-sniffing dogs were also
deployed.
Maritime security was tightened as well, with dozens of patrol boats and
destroyers being stationed as part of multiple defense lines against attacks,
according to sources.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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