It's concealed, but it ain't very concealable - The 10-Ring

Talk about a concealed weapon-- and a heck of an accidental discharge-- how would you like it if a 20mm Vulcan cannon went off in your pocket? That's probably what it seemed like to guests at the Lotte Hotel in downtown Seoul, Korea, when their continental breakfasts were interrupted by what sounded like an anti-aircraft gun firing on the roof, shaking the whole hotel. That's what it sounded like because that's what it was.

The Korean government doesn't advertise it, and the emplacements are concealed from view, but many of the downtown hotels and office buildings have antiaircraft guns on their roofs. With the North Korean Air Force only a couple minutes on afterburner away from a strafing run on the capitol, they think it's a good idea. They just don't talk about it.

Officials at the Lotte Hotel explained their 20mm Vulcan cannon sort of got away from 'em during a routine inspection, firing about 10 high-velocity explosive shells over Hotel Row and into the hills. They offered apologies, but the check-out line still got really busy, really fast.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Publishers' Development Corporation
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group