'IS targets USFK installations, Korean citizen'
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A SWAT team guards the U.S.Embassy in Seoul, Sunday, after the Islamic State group designated U.S. Air Force installations here and a South Korean citizen as targets for attacks, according to the National Intelligence Service. / Yonhap
By Jun Ji-hye
The country’s spy agency said Sunday that the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group has designated U.S. Air Force installations in Korea and a Korean citizen as targets for attacks.
The group has recently incited terrorist attacks through Telegram, a German mobile instant messenger service, by revealing the locations of 77 air force installations belonging to the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) around the world, and the personal information of civilians in 21 countries, according to the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
As to Korea, the extremist group, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), unveiled the locations of U.S. Air Force units in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, and Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, as well as the personal information of an employee of a Korean welfare organization.
“While disseminating the location data of the installations and information on the individual, the group incited its sympathizers around the world to retaliate against them,” the NIS said in a rare press release.
The location data of the American installations included Google maps, detailed coordinates and their websites, while the personal data of the civilian included the name, email and home addresses.
The group obtained the information from its own hacking group, called the “United Cyber Caliphate,” the spy agency explained.
In preparation for any possible terrorist attack, the NIS has told the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) as well as Korean military and police to provide sufficient protection for those cited as targets.
In November, the group’s propaganda video showed the flags of 60 countries, citing them as “the global coalition against the Islamic State,” which included the Korean flag.
Earlier, Korea was listed as a potential target in the September edition of the group’s propaganda magazine, “Dabiq.”
The NIS said that IS has been apparently extending the scope of its terrorist attacks from Europe to the United States to Asia, beginning from the Nov. 13 Paris terrorist attacks.
“The latest message from ISIL once again confirmed that the group has included Korea among its targets,” the NIS said.
The spy agency noted that terrorist threats have become a reality in Korea, citing that the nation has deported 50 people linked to terrorist groups over the past five years.
“Two Koreans were also caught attempting to join ISIL,” the agency said.
The NIS added that the government will keenly monitor the movements of international terrorist groups by utilizing a counterterrorism center, which was newly established under the management of the Prime Minister’s Office following the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Law by the National Assembly in March.
The law called for establishing an entity under the control the office, which will decide on key policies related to counterterrorism as well as providing the NIS with access to personal information, including financial transactions, of terrorism suspects.
After the law was passed, some civic groups criticized it as allowing the NIS to abuse its power and violate human rights.