South Korea Stages Disaster Drill

More than 400 South Korean soldiers and police staged a disaster drill in downtown Seoul on Tuesday.

The drill simulated how they would deal with security threats, hostage situations, and natural disasters.

Soldiers rappelled down the side of a building, the bomb squad detonated a suitcase, and civilians helped demonstrate emergency evacuation drills.

[Col. Ra Kyung-Joon, South Korean Army]:
"Today, we're conducting this drill in a combined operation among civilian, government, army and police. Our army is ready to cope with any special disasters such as terror, fire and earthquakes. We will go into action immediately in perfect order as if dealing with our enemy.”

Officials say the drill will increase the country's preparedness for any emergency situation.

[Jin Ik-chul, Seocho City Mayor]:
"Using this as momentum, we can improve our capacity to protect our residents' lives and property safely against natural disasters as well as threats of terrorism.”

South Korea remains on high alert after North Korea fired scores of artillery shells at a South Korean island last November, killing two soldiers.

South and North Korea are still technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce without a peace treaty.