Aug 18 (the-japan-news.com) - The Japanese government has confirmed that all of its citizens in South Korea can be admitted to shelters designated by the South Korean government, should North Korea launch an attack on the South.
Tokyo has been studying plans to evacuate Japanese nationals living in South Korea amid mounting tensions with Pyongyang over possible ballistic missile launches.
The evacuation plan would include repatriating Japanese nationals after they evacuate to shelters. However, South Korea has yet to consent to the dispatch of Self-Defense Forces' transport vessels and aircraft.
The Japanese government intends to hold discussions immediately on the matter with South Korea.
According to the Foreign Ministry and other sources, there are about 57,000 Japanese in South Korea, divided between about 38,000 long-term residents and about 19,000 short-term travelers.
Starting in May, Japanese government officials have made multiple visits to Seoul and elsewhere in South Korea to inspect shelters in subway stations and parking lots beneath high-rise buildings, among other locations.
The South Korean government has told the officials that there are roughly 18,000 government-designated shelters that can admit more than 52 million people - South Korea's entire population, including foreigners in the country.
