PM orders measures to protect overseas Koreans from terrorism

Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik on Tuesday asked for extra government efforts to ensure the safety of Korean nationals staying abroad as the world faces broader terrorist threats after the death of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

"Terrorist threats are feared to escalate in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world following the recent death of Osama bin Laden," Kim said during a weekly Cabinet meeting.

"I ask related government offices to take full measures to better protect the safety of South Korean nationals staying abroad," he said.

In a related move, Seoul police said they have tightened security around foreign embassies in the capital as Interpol and terror experts have warned of possible retaliatory attacks for the U.S. killing of bin Laden.

As for the four South Korean sailors of a Singaporean chemical carrier hijacked by Somali pirates on April 30, Kim instructed related government offices to do all they can to win the safe return of the South Koreans in cooperation with Singapore.

He then requested extra caution by ships operating off the coast of Kenya, the scene of the hijacking. (Yonhap)