Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Military concentrates ‘full energy’ on reining in the spread of AI and fight against  it.

Puts 3,000 troops in 11 cities and provinces, and 315 decontamination trucks for military assistance to civil authorities

The Minister of National Defense, Han Min-Koo asked the military to lead from the front in order to prevent the spread of Avian Influenza (AI), which has been sweeping the country.

He visited the preventive site of AI in Baekseok-eup, Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, on December 26, and encouraged soldiers who came forward to block the spread of AI. Minister Han requested that “the army fulfill their role of the public goods by giving active support while devising safety measures“.

Our military’s hard work to prevent the spread of AI is currently underway. The MND announced on December 27 that it will cooperate with local governments and provide aid for local residents to support the extermination and prevention of the spread of AI.

According to the MND, the military has deployed around 3,000 troops into 11 cities and provinces, with the exception of Jeju island, since November 29, and is operating 315 decontamination trucks, as well as 47 checkpoints for road disease control and movement control.

31 units including the MND, Army Headquarters, 1st and 3rd Field Army Command, 2nd Operations Command, etc. have been operating disaster countermeasures headquarters and have been monitoring the AI situation in real-time and discussing supporting plans for local governments since December 16 when the AI crisis alert was upgraded to ‘severe’. On this day as well, around 370 soldiers of the three armed forces engaged in providing various military aids in all parts of the country, including decontamination, movement control, base disinfection, etc.

Soldiers have been working in all areas of support with the exception of direct killing activities, including transporting and burying killed animals, coop cleaning and disinfection, etc. to prevent AI from spreading. As well, each commanding officer visited the local government first to provide a ‘visiting service’ of identifying the supporting elements preemptively.

An MND official said, “We are providing the utmost support to prevent AI from spreading, while ensuring our soldiers are safe and well-rested.”

By Su-Yeol, Maeng < guns13@dema.mil.kr >
<Copyright ⓒ The Korea Defense Daily, All rights reserved>