S Korea to Use 'All Means' for Potential Emergency Evacuation of S Koreans in Japan

South Korea said Friday it will resort to "all means possible" to evacuate its nationals in Japan in case of a nuclear emergency.

The country will mobilize charter flights, military airplanes, patrol ships and warships for emergency evacuation of South Koreans in Japan when necessary, the foreign ministry here said.

A day after expanding a no-go area to an 80-kilometer radius surrounding Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, the South Korean government practically raised an alarm level and advised its nationals to move to safer areas if deemed necessary.

Two-thirds of 107 South Korean relief workers currently operating in the earthquake-ravaged northeastern Japanese city of Sendai will now be sent to the nearby city of Niigata in consideration of "various factors," including potential exposure to radiation and changes in the wind direction, Second Vice Foreign Minister Min Dong-seok told reporters in a press briefing.

"I can't say exactly what kind of situation would amount to an emergency," Min said. "We will take necessary measures depending on development of the situation."