South Korea held civilian air raid defense drills across the country on Tuesday to practice emergency measures in case of a North Korean attack, marking the first such drills in six years, according to the presidential office.

The training comes after a North Korean short-range missile in November last year prompted air raid alert warnings on Ulleung, an island off South Korea’s east coast.

“Training that is as realistic as actual situations is necessary to protect the safety of the people,” President Yoon Suk-yeol said before participating in air raid defense drills at the presidential office in central Seoul.

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