Islamic State (IS) terrorists have shown flags of 60 nations, including Korea, under the title “the Global Coalition Against IS,” on its video, apparently as part of tactics to scare the people of these nations and get its rank-and-file members more tightly organized.
First, the IS should know that scare tactics will only reinforce the will of the nations to fight the injustices of acts such as the murders of innocent people depicted in these videotapes. Its brutal acts against humanity have been a rallying cry for the civilized world to get indignant, as shown by the recent attacks by its members on Parisians. Not just France, but other countries have shown little reservation to stand up and join the war for justice.
Second, it is important for the world to look at what has germinated IS and address the root causes to prevent such evil forces from reappearing. IS has been thriving in Syria, where a civil war is raging, and Iraq, where the rule of law has not been firmly established. This chaotic situation is fueled by intra-religious rivalries.
What should also caution the rest of the world is not to give in to a temptation to make it a clash of religions as obviously wished for by the IS extremists. We know the lessons from the Crusades, which ― among other things ― have perpetuated inter-religious discord, an open sore that has remained unhealed for centuries.
Also imperative is that Koreans, as well as people of other nations cited by IS, should take extra care when traveling to the Middle East, and all efforts at the governmental level should be taken to preclude any attacks beforehand.