OSAKA -- The Ground Self-Defense Force and Osaka Prefectural Police conducted a joint security drill Wednesday simulating an attack by armed commandos.
The drill, a strategy scenario involving 80 senior police and GSDF officers, was aimed at enhancing countermeasures for dealing with large-scale terrorist activities in the wake of the terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001 and occasional North Korean spy ship intrusions, officials said.
The scenario included agents armed with rocket launchers landing in Osaka Prefecture.
During the simulation, the two groups tracked and neutralized the intruders, patrolled key installations and evacuated civilians. They discussed what types of arms could be used in such situations and how command liaison would work, as well as security measures that would be taken in the event VIPs were in area.
It is the third time the Self-Defense Forces and police conducted such a joint exercise, following one involving the GSDF and Hokkaido Prefectural Police in November and another with the GSDF and Fukui Prefectural Police earlier this month.