ed Countering terrorism

Dhaka attack raises questions on readiness

Is Korea prepared for terrorist attacks in Itaewon, Hongdae or Gangnam, where crowds of many nationalities intermingle? How would it respond if its nationals are taken hostage or killed by terrorists in foreign countries?

The deadly assaults by armed terrorists at the cafe in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka Friday endow these questions with an ever more clear and present sense of danger for Koreans, who have by and large been spared the direct brunt of international terrorism.

During the hostage situation at the Holey Artisan Bakery, 20 civilians were killed: nine Italians, seven Japanese, one American, one Indian and two Bangladeshis. Reports had asserted that Koreans were included but those reports were later confirmed to be untrue. The Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Dhaka attack should raise alarm among Korean law enforcement authorities for three reasons.

First, it represents IS’s attempt to expand its theater of operation in Asia. The extremist group has thus far focused on Europe, which is closer to its stronghold in the Middle East. Al-Qaeda had previously been more active in Asia. After Dhaka, IS could become territorial with an eye on Asia. Previous IS attacks took place in Paris, Brussels and, most recently, in Istanbul.

Second, IS is targeting so-called soft targets ― civilians ― after its military campaigns were pinned down by a coordinated counterattack from the international community. This change in tactics may inflict big collateral damage and force opposing governments to relent.

These two reasons could make Korea a tempting target. The country has a growing number of foreigners, is not fully experienced with dealing with international terrorism and has a great number of Christians with its churches sending missionaries even to the Middle East. God forbid! If an attack on a restaurant or theater in a populated area occurs, the results would be catastrophic.

For this, the nation should be ready to err on the side of caution. First, this calls for a thorough check on our preparedness to the last imaginable detail.

The checklist includes having enough negotiators who can communicate in languages that potential terrorists could use and experienced commandos on standby to engage the terrorists as a means of last resort. The government’s crisis management plan should start with a designation of a control tower and include coordination with the governments of hostages or victims.

Also important is a manual in the event that Korean nationals are killed or taken hostage in a foreign country. We can take a lesson from Japan, which suffered the second-largest number of casualties after Italy in the Dhaka attack, but stopped short of vowing to take revenge contrary to other affected nations. Obviously, Japan’s response was calculated not to invite terrorism to its shores.

IS has already designated Korea as one of 60 target nations over its alliance with the United States, more recently specifying U.S. airbases in Osan and Gunsan. The two cities and other areas have plenty of places where IS or other extremists may attack. Throw in the government’s recent warning of acts of terrorism by North Korea alone or in tandem with extremist groups and there is no denying that the nation should double down on its anti-terrorism efforts at all levels. It is about safeguarding our way of life and, therefore, we should do what it takes.