Recognizing Issues and Establishing a Response System for EMP Threats
Public Discussion to Continue with Security Forum Scheduled for March Next Year
Concrete Preparedness Plans to Be Incorporated into the Chungmu Plan
Gyeonggi Province has initiated a public discussion on the need to establish a preparedness system against electromagnetic pulses (EMP), which have the potential to simultaneously incapacitate critical infrastructure essential for maintaining society and residents' daily lives, such as telecommunications equipment, computers, the internet, and electricity.
Gyeonggi Province held the "EMP Threat Response Expert Meeting" on the 15th at the Provincial Government Exhibition Comprehensive Situation Room. Photo by Gyeonggi Province
On December 15, Gyeonggi Province held the "EMP Threat Response Expert Meeting" at the Provincial Government Exhibition Comprehensive Situation Room, where participants discussed the establishment of a response system to protect residents from EMP threats.
The meeting was attended by 15 individuals, including Kim Sangsoo, Director General of Balanced Development Planning for Gyeonggi Province, the Emergency Planning Officer, the Emergency Planning Manager, three Peace and Security Advisory Committee members, the Head of Emergency Planning for Gangwon Province, and the Head of Emergency Measures for Incheon City. The meeting featured presentations by Dr. Lee Sangmin of the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses and Researcher Oh Hangil of the National Disaster Management Research Institute, both experts in the field of EMP threats, followed by a discussion on building a response system for Gyeonggi Province.
'EMP' stands for Electromagnetic Pulse, a phenomenon that releases intense energy in a short period, destroying the operation of related systems such as electronic devices, power grids, and communication equipment. The most alarming aspect of an EMP is that, when used as a weapon, it can instantly paralyze critical infrastructure, including GPS-based navigation systems, telecommunications equipment, computers, the internet, and electricity.
Gyeonggi Province believes that both the central government and local governments are currently inadequately prepared for such EMP attacks, emphasizing the need for a shared understanding of the threat and the development of response plans.
During the meeting, Dr. Lee Sangmin from the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses introduced recent trends in EMP attacks and domestic and international case studies, analyzed vulnerabilities and risk factors within Gyeonggi Province in the event of an EMP attack, and proposed response strategies to protect residents. Researcher Oh Hangil from the National Disaster Management Research Institute presented improvement measures for the government and local governments' response systems to prepare for EMP attacks.
Starting with this meeting, Gyeonggi Province plans to further publicize the issue by holding a security forum on EMP in March next year. In August, the province intends to concretize its response plan through a wartime issue discussion held in conjunction with the Ulchi Exercise, and to incorporate these measures into the Chungmu Plan, its wartime preparedness plan.
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