“ROK Troops in Iraq to Be Attacked if Not Withdrawn within Two Weeks”

“ROK Troops in Iraq to Be Attacked if Not Withdrawn within Two Weeks”. October. 12, 2004 23:04. by Hyong-gwon Pu bookum90@donga.com.

An Islamic group asserting to be the Northeast Asian network of al-Qaeda warned, “If ROK troops do not withdraw from Iraq within 14 days, Korean troops in Iraq and facilities in Korea will be attacked” on an Arabic website, prompting the Korean government to investigate the matter on October 12.

A government official said, “An Islamic group, Hamud Al Masouri, stated a warning, requesting the withdrawal of ROK troops from Iraq on an Arabic website ‘Montana’ on October 10.”

The warning also threatened, “Facilities within Korea are not far from us, for we have a cell in Seoul.”

The statement was titled “A Warning to the Korean Government,” but the receiver was written as “those hired by the U.S. government.” The warning was dated as September 30, but was posted on the website on October 10 at 8:50 p.m.

A different government official emphasized, “Because this group is not well-known, there are doubts regarding the credibility of intelligence. However, measures against terror are being thoroughly prepared as a precaution.”