The government ordered post offices nationwide to reinforce inspection procedures on mail and packages utilizing metal detectors and X-ray fluoroscopes as a precaution against possible biological or chemical terrorist attacks it was reported Tuesday. In addition, the National Institute of Health has organized a 24-hour counter-terrorism task force specifically targeting bio-medical threats, as customs security checks at airports and ports are being tightened.

At a cabinet meeting, the government discussed appropriate countermeasures for possible terrorist attacks using bio-chemical weapons and a deputy-ministerial meeting of the Ministries of Health and Welfare, National Defense, and Government Administration and Home Affairs, and the National Intelligence Service will be held Wednesday to come up with government-level plans against terrorism.

Park Joon-young, the head of the Government Information Agency, asked for the cooperation from citizens, requesting them not to make malicious reports or threats in his ‘Statement to the Nation on Counter-Terrorism’ Tuesday. Park noted that there have been three false reports of bio-chemical terror attacks and a bomb threat so far.

(Kim Deok-han, ducky@chosun.com )