Japan plans to evacuate people from South Korea?

According to Reuters news agency, Japan's National Security Council (NSC) met to discuss plans to evacuate nearly 60,000 Japanese citizens from South Korea.

Elementary school students in Oga city (Japan) participate in a missile evacuation drill on March 17 - Photo: Reuters

On April 14, Reuters news agency quoted an anonymous Japanese official as saying that a meeting of the Japanese National Security Council (NSC) on evacuation plans took place on April 13.

There are currently nearly 60,000 Japanese citizens living and working in Korea.

In fact, two days ago, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned citizens who are about to visit Korea for less than three months to pay attention to contacting the Japanese diplomatic mission, and Japanese citizens who have lived in Korea for a long time must immediately register their documents with the diplomatic mission.

According to the official, in addition to commercial ships and planes, Japan also wants to send military ships and planes to support evacuation efforts in case of turmoil, if approved by the Seoul government.

At the April 13 meeting, the NSC also discussed how to respond to the potential risk of a flood of North Korean refugees, including possible Pyongyang spies, pouring into Japan.

In another development, speaking at a press conference today (April 14), Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga emphasized that Tokyo always collects and analyzes information about North Korea's moves, but he did not provide details.

"We are currently in close contact with the United States and South Korea, and urge North Korea to refrain from provocative actions and comply with relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. We will take all necessary measures to protect the lives and property of our people," Mr. Suga confirmed.

The NSA meeting took place amid speculation that North Korea may conduct a nuclear test on the occasion of the 105th anniversary of the birth of late President Kim Il Sung, the founder of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, scheduled for April 15 and before the 85th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army (April 25).

The situation became even more tense after the US launched 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian airbase on April 7 in response to Syria's suspected chemical weapons attack, raising concerns that US President Donald Trump would take similar action against North Korea if Pyongyang conducted another nuclear test or missile launch.

Previously, after North Korea launched a missile towards the Sea of ​​Japan on March 6, 11 days later, Japan held its first civilian evacuation drill.

The drill took place in the city of Oga in northwestern Japan - where a North Korean missile landed just 200km away - with the participation of about 100 residents.

Speaking at a press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said: "We believe this is a very important exercise to raise people's understanding of what they need to do when the government releases information about a missile launch."

According to Vietnamnet.vn