SEOUL, May 28: South Korea will place surface-to-air missiles and station sniper squads near stadiums during the World Cup finals to counter any September 11-style assaults, a defence ministry official said on Tuesday.

But the official told Reuters there were no signs at this stage that South Korea’s 10 host stadiums might be targeted by any terrorist organisations during the month-long finals which open in the capital Seoul on Friday.

Following last year’s suicide hijack attacks on New York and Washington, South Korea has staged anti-terror drills at the stadiums, during which troops descended on ropes from hovering helicopters ready to meet any emergency.

“Obviously, (the September 11 attacks) are one of the concerns,” the official said. “The Korean military is trying as best it can to protect the people watching and playing the games.”

He did not specify how many police and military will be deployed, but said fighter jets would be used to guard the stadiums during the quadrennial tournament, which closes in co-host Japan’s Yokohama on June 30.

Bomb squads and trucks equipped to detect biochemicals would be positioned near the stadiums in case of possible bio-chemical attacks, he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

South Korea has also intensified checks on overseas mail to prevent import of any deadly substances after numerous anthrax postal attacks in the United States killed five people last year.

“We are pretty much prepared for everything,” the official said.

The government plans to close down airports in the host cities of Taegu and Kwangju during the games as they are located near no-fly zones to be imposed near all stadiums two hours prior to matches, he said.

Only fighter jets and military helicopter will be allowed to hover above the stadiums during the games, the official said.

In case of emergencies, a squad of snipers equipped with anti-aircraft missiles will shoot down any suspicious aircraft which defies orders to leave no-fly zones over the stadiums.

The no-fly zones have been designated with an altitude of 10,000 feet (3,050 metres) — similar to those enclosing the northern part of the capital Seoul which is about 30 km (20 miles) away from the border with communist North Korea.

South Korea is technically at war with the North, as the Korean War of 1950-53 ended with an armistice that has never been turned into a peace treaty.

Last Sunday, military helicopters were seen slowly circling the stadium in Suwon near Seoul during a friendly between titleholders France and South Korea.

Fans at Sunday’s game stood in long lines as security staff checked bags and personal effects, based on a detailed list of items not allowed into the match, including hammers.—Reuters