S. Korea announces security measures ahead of Nuclear Security Summit

Cho Hyun-oh, commissioner of the National Police Agency (NPA), unveiled security preparations, including protective services, countermeasures against illegal demonstrations, and traffic management, for the two-day global event that will start March 26.

"South Korea's successful hosting of the Nuclear Security Summit, the top-level forum in the security field, is a significant opportunity to raise the country's national brand a step further," Cho told a press briefing.

He said a total of about 36,000 police officers will be mobilized for the summit to guarantee the safety of leaders of participating countries.

Some 5,000 military and police personnel will be deployed to facilities vulnerable to terrorist attacks, while police maintain a heightened level of preparedness against potential terrorist assaults, including explosive attacks or cyber terrorism, according to Cho.

Cho vowed to deal strictly with illegal and violent demonstrations during the summit in accordance with laws and principles.

He stressed that traffic management is the key to the successful hosting of the biggest diplomatic event the country has ever hosted, calling for active support and participation of the public to reduce traffic congestion.

He urged the public to use public transportation instead of driving during the Summit.

Top leaders from 53 nations and four international organizations, including U.S. President Barack Obama, Chinese President Hu Jintao and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, will attend the March 26-27 summit to discuss how to prevent nuclear terrorism.

It will be the second since Obama launched the summit in Washington in 2010.