Emergency declared in South Korea

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32783, 7 December 1971, Page 17

Emergency declared in South Korea

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) SEOUL, December 6. President Park today declared a state of national emergency in South Korea, and issued a warning that North Korea intended to take over the country by force.

The Presidential statement said that North Korea was intensifying her infiltration by armed espionage agents, and had nearly completeded her preparations for an invasion.

The emergency was declared after a joint session of the Cabinet and National Security Council. "It will remain in force as long as North Korea maintains an aggressive posture and tension continues,” a Presidential spokesman said.

President Park said that North Korea intended to take over the country by force, taking advantage cf a stalemate in the nuclear arms race which might restrict action by the Great Powers.

The Presidential statement emphasised that South

Korea's national security also faced trials ahead in view of China’s admission to the United Nations, American aid reductions, a possible further withdrawal of United States troops from South Korea, and increasing Japanese contacts with China and North Korea. "The North Korean Communists have already turned their entire land into a huge garrison with considerable fortifications,” President Park said. “Teen-agers, middle school students, women and the aged are subjected to rifle training. "In addition to 500,000strong regular forces, North Korea has 1.4 million Red Militia and 700,000 Red Youth Guards who can be instantly committed to armed conflict, equipped with weapons and training comparable with those of the regular forces. “Furthermore, North Korea is busily occupied in the mass

i production of war weapons, : having nearly completed her : preparations for invasion.” i The six-point Presidential • order, issued on nation-wide-I radio and television, emphai sised that national security • would be the foremost coni sideration in South Korean national life. One point in the order 1 called on South Koreans to i be prepared with a determins ation, when the worst conc tingency arose, to concede 8 some of their freedoms for 1 the sake of national security. ) A Presidential spokesman told reporters that North - Korea had recently activated 1 an Eighth Army in the proi vince of Pyongang north of 1 the border, placing various f unite for infiltration to the South under unified comi mand. The North had also ex- ) panded into brigade size a light infantry regiment speciI ally designed for guerrilla s warfare in the South, he said.