PM calls for full-scale defense posture for successful nuclear security summit

Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik on Wednesday called for establishing a strong, integrated defense posture to successfully host the nuclear security summit next month.

   The Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul will be held from March 26-27 and aims to bolster international safeguards and prevent nuclear terrorism, according to its organizers. The global summit is the second of its kind, with the first in the U.S. in 2010. Top leaders from 50 nations including the United States, Russia, China, Japan, Britain and France are expected to attend.

"The Seoul Nuclear Security Summit holds great significance, as it will serve as an opportunity for us to cement our image as the country at the center of the world," Kim said while convening the 45th regular meeting on integrated defense.

   "We need to maintain more comprehensive military readiness than ever before through close cooperation among relevant agencies," Kim said, while stressing the importance of thorough preparations for other domestic and international key events such as the World Expo in Yeosu and parliamentary and presidential elections.