In response to the accusations made by South Korea’s intelligence service, North Korea has raised its alert level for diplomatic missions in five countries. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) revealed that they had detected signs of North Korea planning terrorist attacks against South Korean embassy personnel or citizens in China, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.
The NIS stated that North Korean agents were sent to these countries to increase surveillance on South Korean embassies and search for potential targets. In response, South Korea raised its anti-terrorism alert level for its embassies in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, as well as its consulates in Shenyang, China, and Vladivostok, Russia. These locations also house North Korean diplomatic representations.
The threats are believed to be connected to a wave of defections from North Korean expatriates who were stranded abroad due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The NIS suspects that North Korean diplomats are sending false reports to Pyongyang accusing South Korea of encouraging defections in order to avoid being indirectly held responsible and punished.
As a result of these allegations, the NIS has increased surveillance on all South Korean embassies and expatriate communities worldwide. There is concern that the North Korean regime may be preparing to retaliate against South Korean diplomats. Last year saw the highest number of defectors from North Korea arrive in South Korea since 2017, with some being part of North Korea’s elite such as diplomats and their families. Recently, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared South Korea his country’s “main enemy” and deemed any prospect of reunification as futile.
