7 out of 10 S. Koreans seriously concerned about security situation: poll

SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- Seven out of 10 South Koreans expressed serious concerns about the current security situation as they think political uncertainties could lead to provocations by North Korea, a local poll showed Tuesday.

In a survey conducted by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs late last year on 1,000 people aged 15 or older, 71.4 percent of the respondents expressed the view that the country is facing serious security risks. The outcome is far higher than 50.9 percent who gave the same answer in a similar survey in 2015, the ministry said in a statement.

The surge was apparently affected by evolving nuclear and missile threats posed by the North in recent years. Military officials have said that Pyongyang could raise military tension if it miscalculates that Seoul and Washington will not be able to respond effectively as they are undergoing political changes.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is scheduled to take office on Jan. 20 and South Korea's President Park Geun-hye has been impeached by parliament over an alleged corruption scandal involving her friend.

kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
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