Gov't ready to evacuate 40K Filipinos in Korea

MANILA, Philippines -The government is prepared to evacuate over 40,000 Filipinos in South Korea in case the "state of war" declared by North Korea escalates further, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Monday.

"We have a contingency plan for the safety of our fellow men in case an evacuation becomes necessary. Our embassy (in South Korea) is prepared," Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez said in a radio interview.

He said the DFA is studying possible exit points in case of an emergency and Filipinos may be brought to Busan before being repatriated if the situation worsens.

Hernandez added that there are five to seven Filipinos in North Korea working under non-governmental organizations.

The Philippine government has also coordinated with the United Nations and the United States embassy in South Korea, he said.

He said, however, that the overall situation in the Korean peninsula is normal and calm.

Filipinos in Korea are advised to remain alert with the situation placed on alert level 1. This could be raised, however, depending on the advisory of the South Korean government.

The North Korean government declared on Saturday a state of war with its southern neighbor, adding that it will engage with all matters involving South Korea based on "wartime regulations." 

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country will retaliate against any provocation by the US and South Korea without any prior notice.

The US has recently flown two American B-2 bombers over the Korean peninsula as part of a training mission, earning the ire of the North Korean government.