North Korea Prepares Terrorist Attacks Against South Korean Embassy Officials in China, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East

Recently, signs were found that North Korea is preparing terrorist attacks against South Korean embassy officials and citizens in several countries such as China, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, so on the 2nd, the government lowered the terror alert for five embassies abroad. in Southeast Asia, China, and Russia from ‘attention.’ It was raised two levels as a ‘warning’.

Terrorist alerts are divided into four levels: interest, caution, caution, and seriousness Among them, ‘alert’ refers to a state in which there is a high possibility that a terrorist attack will occur. The embassies in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, and the consulates in Vladivostok, Russia, and Shenyang, China, are the embassies that the terror alert was raised to ‘warning’. Vladivostok and Shenyang are close to North Korea, and Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam have traditionally had close relations with North Korea, so the number of North Korean representatives sent there is high and their actions are active.

The National Intelligence Service said, “Recently, we have received many signs that North Korea is preparing terrorist attacks against our embassy officials or citizens in several countries such as China, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.” They said, “North Korea is sending agents to these countries to investigate and terrorize South Korean embassies.

In addition, “After the end of COVID-19, long-term overseas expats began returning to North Korea in the second half of last year, and elites such as embassy officials, trade workers, and international students who felt skeptical about North Korea. system leaving one after the other. for the ‘voluntary desert event’ and they are trying to take revenge against the members of our embassy,” he said.

As North Korean embassy officials, trade workers, and international students who have stayed abroad for long periods of time continue to leave the country to avoid returning home due to the coronavirus pandemic, embassy officials and members of special agencies such as the Ministry of National Security, which are responsible for monitoring foreign traffickers, trying to avoid responsibility. On the other hand, it can be understood that they are planning terrorist attacks such as our -kidnap diplomatic officers.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Counter-Terrorism Center of the Government Policy Coordination Office held an ‘Anti-Terrorism Working Committee’ on this day to examine the status of terrorism preparedness at embassies abroad and discuss measures to ensure the safety of the embassy and its staff.

The National Intelligence Service said, “We will develop intelligence operations with potential terrorism in mind, not only in countries where signs of a North Korean terrorist threat have been detected, but also in other regions, while work closely with related agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to do our best to ensure the safety of our citizens.” .