The government Monday launched its first nationwide "Safe Korea Exercise" with an aim to prepare citizens and community groups for large-scale natural and man-made disasters.

A total of 35 groups affiliated with the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs are taking part in the three-day disaster preparedness drill that will put participants in mock situations in which a typhoon, an earthquake or a man-made oil slick hits the Korean peninsula.

Through the exercise the ministry hopes to boost cooperative ties among the related organizations and reinforce Korea's capacity to cope with disasters.