A nationwide anti-air-raid drill with the participation of all residents will be conducted on Wednesday, the National Emergency Management Agency said Tuesday.

The evacuation drill involving all residents under a scenario of a North Korean attack is the first of its kind since the civil defense law was enacted in 1975.

The drill comes in the wake of a series of North Korean provocations including the Nov. 23 artillery attack on Yeonpyeong Island near the western sea border that killed four South Koreans including two civilians.

After a warning of an air raid is issued at 2 p.m. for the drill, the agency will control road traffic and the movements of all citizens for 15 minutes, the agency said.

Residents will be asked to be evacuated into safe zones. Pedestrians on the streets will be asked to move into nearby underground shelters. Drivers will be asked to pull over and move into underground safety zones.

Those at home should first cut off their gas and electricity supplies and move into underground shelters while those in high-rise buildings should take the stairs rather than using elevators to find shelters.

Ships, trains, airplanes and cars running on highways will be allowed to operate as normal. Those in the areas affected by the food and mouth disease will not participate in the drill, the agency said.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)