Korean Airport Security at Incheon

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It was pretty common as far back as 1980 for overseas security personnel to carry some pretty heavy ordnance. I assume most of them are even better armed today.
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The HK/PRC border crossing guards don't really display firepower anymore. I was in one of the crossings, i think the Zhuhai/Macau one, when the power went out once and I was kind of disappointed that they didn't have squads rush out or anything.

Government/military buildings with guard stands usually have a guy in a dressy uniform with a closed holster, sometimes a guy with one of the type97 rifles.

Normal Chinese cops don't carry sidearms.
 
Off topic but I find it curious that one of them is only identified as "POLICE" (in English) without even the oriental designator above it like his partner.
 
Off topic but I find it curious that one of them is only identified as "POLICE" (in English) without even the oriental designator above it like his partner.
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It's because it's an international airport and the fact that English is required curriculum in Korea helps.

Last time I was around a couple years ago it wasn't out of place to see federal troops up and about. Then again, that's when there was some saber rattling coming from the north.
 
That is definitely one HK MP5 and UMP45. Nice weapons. Heavy security for an airport, they must have been on alert.

The South Korean military is pretty formidable, they sure do ruff up African pirates and keep North Koreans at bay effectively.
 
Is it just me or hasn't anybody gone to a major US airport lately? I'm pretty sure you can now find a patrol or two that looks pretty much like those guys in the pic. Minus the red "shoot me" berets. Of course, you can go through Singapore's Changi airport and see virtually the same thing. Don't ever recall any show of force like that in Japan, or even Hong Kong, however...
 
Is it just me or hasn't anybody gone to a major US airport lately? I'm pretty sure you can now find a patrol or two that looks pretty much like those guys in the pic.
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I was recently in New Orleans Int. and Dallas/Fortworth and saw no such weaponry. There were only sidearms. In Tokyo and Ho Chi Minh city's (Vietnam) airports I saw no guns.
 
French police routinely patrols Paris, wearing heavy body armor and armed with HK MP5's and 40mm single-shot stand-alone grenade launcres (possibly for less-lethal use)
 
I would hope no one would combine LTL and lethal in the same weapon - that's just asking for disaster. Also one of the reasons I don't think a Star Trek phaser could ever work in real life. How do they not ever get stun and kill mixed up?
 
I don't think a Star Trek phaser could ever work in real life. How do they not ever get stun and kill mixed up?
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The captain orders the setting the phasers must be set to. Each phaser has a setting 0-9, "0" being "off" or safe.
0.= OFF
1.=Low Stun
2.=Medium Stun
3.= UV Torch.
4.= Phaser Low (kills simple, weak life forms)
5.= Heavy Stun
6.= Phaser Medium (kills more robust life forms [and some lawyers])
7.= Phaser Heat (warms rocks in survival situation or makes coffee)
8.= Phaser High (kills robust life forms, ie., klingons, politicians, IRS inspectors)
9.= Overload.

Note, do not use setting 9. if you can't throw the thing beyond blast radius.
BTW, that figure is classified.
 
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Well they got the "I'm a bada$$" style down, you have to give them that. Wearing their shades inside is a nice touch.

Those guys look like they should be in the next GI Joe movie.
 
It seems to me that in recent years seeing such heavily armed police isn't that uncommon. I know I've seen cops on patrol with M4 (or maybe some AR varient) here in DC before, certainly around federal buildings. I do think I've seen US police so armed at Dulles before as well but that could have been some sort of heightened alert day.
 
NoirFan said:
And for those against the 'militarization' of police, what makes an SMG more militaristic than a pistol? Isn't labeling guns based on appearance something the antis do?
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I believe that argument stems more from the way police forces are organized and trained these days (particularly SWAT-type units), than the firearms they utilize.
 
Well armed cops like that are a semi-common sight in NYC, mostly at busier hubs like grand central, penn station, or when important people are in town. I've also seen cops armed like that at US airports. There most certainly armed cops in China, most unarmed, and the heavily armed ones I saw were outside some of the government buildings.
 
To be honest, I'm not sure what the purpose of these people are. The likelihood of someone coming into an airport and shooting up the place is unlikely. Airports can close down and isolate sections fairly quickly. I would think a terrorist would be more likely to use an explosive - something that a simple officer, no matter how heavily armed, cannot really prevent. In that case, a bomb sniffing dog is more useful, but then, you don't need a SMG and full body armor. The dog doesn't really care what you are wearing.

Is someone "on a mission from God" going to really care how heavily armed police and security is?

After 9/11, you had heavily armed officers patrolling the streets. Why? Was a 5.56 round and full body armor going to bring down a hijacked plane?

So, what is the purpose of these folks? Other countries can decide what is right for themselves, but as for me, I'd rather not see paramilitary in our airports. I can understand a small group standing by in case of some criminal scenario happening on a plane, but otherwise, I don't think they need to be out in the open.
 
Did you see if the mags were loaded?

I remember going through Singapore, a whole swat-like team came marching through. Every mag had blue tape on it, if you got a glimpse at the back of the mag you could see there were no bullets in the mag in the gun, and the from the side you could see the followers of the mags in their chest rigs- no bullets either.

I sure hope the guns were not real, or else you may have a Hurricane Andrew type situation where a couple of gang bangers relieved the national guardsmen on their M16's with their loaded hi points.
 
The likelihood of someone coming into an airport and shooting up the place is unlikely.
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This is in part because of armed police units as discussed in this thread. There was an attack by armed terrorists on the Lod Airport in 1972 (killing 26 and wounding 79). Recent attacks like in Mumbai, India also indicate that terrorists are willing to use other approaches rather than just bombs. In general, a police squad armed with submachine guns or assualt rifles is a pretty effective deterent to any sort of shenanigans.
 
I work for an airline @ midway airport in Chicago. I was working on 9-11-01. I watched the 2nd. plane hit the next tower live on our break room t.v. The whole airport was locked down. For the next month or so the regular airport beat cops were wearing riot helmets without the face Shields and also carried Ruger minni-14 teens. After that things pretty much returned to normal. :)
 
BTDT and all I can say is they are far nicer at Inchon than they were at LAX... I had to use a cane and had a knee brace and they made special arrangements for me as soon as they saw me, I did not have to ask... Their airlines are nicer and they use real silverware not plastic.....
 
Their airlines are nicer and they use real silverware not plastic.....
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Same for Japanese Airlines. Real metal knives! The airport staff and stewardesses are so nice and helpful as well. They make the American Airlines crew look like a bunch of overly aggressive robots who can't wait to get you off their plane.
 
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