Posted on 11/25/2010 10:09:54 PM PST by AmericanInTokyo
MANILA, Philippines – The government is prepared to “evacuate all” 60,000 Filipinos in South Korea “if and when needed,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs Esteban Conejos said Wednesday.
“Everything is in place. We have an updated plan that addresses the security contingent arising in Korea. We will evacuate all if and when needed,” he said in a phone interview with INQUIRER.net.
The constant tension in the Korean Peninsula starting with the North Korea’s nuclear testing about two years ago prompted the Philippine government to draw up a plan that includes mobilizing its “extensive network” of Filipino community leaders in dangerous situations, Conejos said.
The plan is regularly updated and the last update was on June 9, he said.
“Right now, the Philippine embassy in Seoul has raised alert level 1, which means heightened security for our nationals,” Conejos said. The plan involves four alert levels.
In his phone conversation with Philippine Ambassador to Seoul Luis Cruz, Conejos said the situation as of posting time was “quiet.”
“There have been no new [artillery] exchanges,” he said.
Asked if the Filipinos in South Korea were feeling anxious, Conejos said they were “concerned about the situation, hoping that it would de-escalate soon.”
The DFA official also said that he has not received any report of an unusually high number of OFW departures from South Korea.
“We have the usual number of returns,” Conejos said.
“Right now, they are always free to come home; coming home is an individual decision. But we will enforce compulsory evacuation if we reach alert level 3,” he added.
President Benigno Aquino III has ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs and other agencies concerned with migrant workers and other overseas Filipinos to ensure their safety.
“We are closely monitoring it and I have tasked the relevant agencies to review their plans concerning the safety of our citizens there,” the chief executive said.
Heads up. Nothing out of the ordinary yet, but preparations slowly and quietly being made no doubt, with various embassies.
Japan made no announcement yet, but considering a warning or travel advisory.
I have heard nothing from the US State Department. Guess its 3:00 a.m. over there.....
경보
M-1991 240mm MLRS Vehicle M-1989 240mm MLRS Vehicle M-1985 240mm MLRS Vehicle M-1993 122mm MLRS Vehicle M-1992 122mm MLRS Vehicle M-1985 122mm MLRS Vehicle M-1977 122mm MLRS Vehicle BM-11 122mm MLRS Vehicle Type-63 107mm MLRS Vehicle
They’re going to evacuate 60,000 Filipinos? Just how in the world do they think they are going to manage that? Stack them like cargo in fifty freighters? Charter 200 odd flights?
OFW’s = Overseas Filipino Workers
All this equipment requires fuel. Do the North Koreans have it?
My question also, how?
Well, evac could just mean out of Seoul, where I suspect 80% of them are, (but I dont know that), down to the (sorry, but here goes!) “Pusan Perimeter”. Initially. Maybe.
What happens when tens...hundreds...thousands of South Koreans start showing up to be evacuated out of harm’s way?
I live here I know...
Give them machetes and let the NK’s find out what the Japanese did so long ago.
Just how much fuel does it take to load and fire a pre-positioned, pre-aimed MLRS or artillery piece?
I don't think underestimating NK is a good idea because psychopaths tend to gravitate to the top in totalitarian regimes. There is something perverse about anyone who wants to control other people. And besides, everybody thought Hitler was "all talk" prior to the invasion of Poland in 1939.
Several Japanese major firms, such as Panasonic, are cancelling their employees visits to ROK at this time.
And the whole Japanese ruling Cabinet, are not to be outside of Tokyo at any time, during the George Washingon Strike Group's manuevers with South Korea in the Yellow Sea coming up.
Seoul is within range of the NK artillery.
Devastating loss of life if it started.
Seoul is within range of the NK artillery.
Devastating loss of life if it started.
thank you for that clarification. I have been racking my brain and the only thing I could come up with was “Officers of Foreign Wars”.... and I KNEW that wasn’t right... :)
Good point. But one purpose of mechanizing artillery is to allow it to move and reposition rapidly to survive counter-battery fire.
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