Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

[ROKAF] Immediately destroys any kind of provocation at the airports that are primary targets of terrorism

Special inspection team with experts from each field

Inspections in all areas related to the safe navigation of civil aircraft

Expanded civil-government-military combined training 4 times a year

A science-based approach to security, aided by infrared cameras, etc.

As North Korea's provocations and international terroristic threats against civil airports are increasing, the Air Force has developed an emergency site inspection and safety management system for 6 civil-military airports to ensure a strong anti-terrorism security posture.

The Air Force is currently sharing civil airports and runways at 6 air bases – Gwangju, Gimhae, Daegu, Sacheon, Wonju and Cheongju. As airports are facilities used by the public, they can be primary targets for terrorists who aim to create social fear.

Then, the Air Force organized a special inspection team consisting of 6 experts from related fields such as military police, air traffic control, information and communication, facilities, etc, and implemented an emergency inspection on the anti-terror readiness of military-private airports as well as the actual condition of safety management system from March 22 to 29.

The special inspection team examined the overall unit’s anti-terrorism security posture. Its examination focused on ensuring an information sharing cooperation system between each Air Force group and related organizations and performing combined training for anti-terrorism.

In addition, running in parallel with the inspection for navigation safety facility and air traffic control procedure as well the measures to prevent civil aircraft accidents, the team not only checked out the management conditions of facilities as well as air control radar but also supplemented signal and action procedures for aircraft emergency situations.

All aspects related to supporting the safe navigation of a civil aircraft were also thoroughly examined to ensure their normal functionality, and a training session on the procedure for switching preliminary equipment to prepare for the potential malfunction of traffic control equipment was held.

On March 24, President Park Geun-hye ordered a nationwide high alert against the increasing provocation threats from North Korea. The Air Force has doubled its civil-government-military combined training from 2 to 4 times a year in order to respond to any terroristic action around civil aviation areas and illegal entry into Korea.

Also, the Air Force has provided thoroughly for any unexpected situations by increasing the surveillance and patrols in the borderline areas between civil airports and air bases. Infrared search cameras and CCTV will be also introduced to strengthen the technology assistance available to guard.

When a terror incident occurs at a civil-military airport, the multi-dimensional support system is enforced to ensure that the Air Force's quick reaction forces and special activity group can immediately move out to ensure field safety and carry out terrorist suppression activities, and at the same time, the explosive ordnance disposal team and CBR response team take charge of disposing improvised explosives and dealing with CBR, while the fire and medical team supports the rear.

There has been a report that an unidentified explosive device was planted at Gwangju airport on March 7, and the initial anti-terrorism response personnel, the ROKAF 1st Air Force Fighter Wing, were promptly mobilized to ensure the readiness posture against terrorism while the explosive ordnance disposal team and the military dog platoon with detection dogs engaged in a search operation to ensure safety.

Major General Noh Seung-hwan, deputy chief of staff for intelligence operations support who is in charge of aviation policy management at the Air Force air base, emphasized “Our civil-government-military organizations will work together organically to maintain the best security posture so that people can feel safe when they use the airport."

By Sang-Yun, Kim < ksy0609@dema.mil.kr >
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