Government: "North Korea Obtained Intelligence for Harm"... Overseas Diplomatic Missions Raise Terror Alert Level

5 Overseas Missions Raise Alert Level from 'Interest' to 'Caution'
"Intelligence Agencies Obtain Espionage Attempts for North Korea"

The government has raised the terror alert level for five overseas diplomatic missions, including those in Vietnam, following intelligence obtained by security agencies regarding North Korea's 'attempts to cause harm.'

On the 2nd, the State Affairs Coordination Office's Anti-Terrorism Center held a counterterrorism working committee meeting to review the current status of terror preparedness at our overseas missions and to discuss necessary measures to ensure the safety of the missions and their personnel. At this meeting, the government raised the terror alert level from 'Interest' to 'Caution' by two steps for five overseas missions: the Embassy in Cambodia, the Embassy in Laos, the Embassy in Vietnam, the Consulate General in Vladivostok, and the Consulate General in Shenyang.

The government explained that this measure was taken following recent intelligence obtained by our security agencies regarding North Korea's attempts to harm our diplomatic personnel. The terror alert system is divided into four levels according to the degree of threat: Interest, Attention, Caution, and Severe. 'Caution' is a higher level than 'Attention' and is issued when there is a high likelihood of a terrorist incident occurring.

A government official stated, "We will continue to closely monitor overseas terror trends and take measures to ensure the safety of our missions, personnel, and overseas nationals."