[워싱턴=신화통신/KNS뉴스통신] 미국방성은 2001년 9월 11일의 테러 공격 기념일 위험에 대비 미 군사기지의 무력방위 레벨을 한 단계 상향조치토록 명령을 내렸다고 당국자가 7일(현지시각) 발표했다.
조지 리틀 펜타곤(Pentagon) 대변인은 레온 파네타 국방장관이 FPCON(포스 프로텍션 컨디션)을 한 단계 높여달라는 미국 북부사령부 신청을 승인했다고 발표했다.
FPCON이란 군사시설에 대한 테러리스트 위협 수준에 대응해 보안기관들이 취해야한다고 요청되는 정도의 조치사항 수준을 표시하는 것으로서 미국방성이 통제한다.
(이하 신화통신 원문 참조)
WASHINGTON, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Pentagon has ordered an increase in the force protection level at military bases in the United States before the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, authorities said Wednesday.
Pentagon Spokesman George Little said Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has approved a request by U.S. Northern Command to raise the Force Protection Condition (FPCON) through Sunday.
The FPCON, a system overseen by the Pentagon, describes the amount of measures needed to be taken by security agencies in response to various levels of terrorist threats against military facilities.
Little stressed that the move was taken not due to a specific terror threat, but as a "prudent and precautionary measure." He noted that terrorists have shown interests in anniversaries and documents recovered from the compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, where Osama bin Laden was killed, also mentioned the Sept. 11 anniversary.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Wednesday that the administration would be "ever vigilant" on Sunday's anniversary.
Earlier this month, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano said the U.S. remains at "a heightened state of vigilance" and security measures are in place to detect and prevent plots against the United States should they emerge.
On Sept.11, 2001, terrorists hijacked two of the passenger planes and crashed them into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, killing nearly 3,000 innocent civilians.
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