ISIS Attacks On USFK Military Units? Security Beefed Up At Installations Across South Korea

United States Forces Korea said Monday that it stepped up security at its military installations after the South Korean spy agency said the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, collected information to target USFK’s facilities in the country. South Korean military is also ready to deploy security forces at the installations to avert possible attacks.

The National Intelligence Service, South Korea’s spy agency, said Sunday that ISIS has 77 USFK military units across the country on its radar. The agency said that the militant group obtained the data on the locations of the units from its hacking group United Cyber Caliphate.

“Through constant vigilance and regular exercises with our South Korean counterparts, we remain prepared to respond at any time to any emerging threats,” USFK said in a statement, cited by CNN. “USFK remains committed to ensuring the highest degree of security on the Korean Peninsula.”

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) also said that the country is working to add more security at the military units.

“The joint chiefs have been informed of the related intelligence from concerned institutions and relayed them to the Combined Forces Command (between South Korea and the U.S.) and we are taking necessary preparations,” Yonhap News Agency reported, citing a JCS official.

“South Korea is working with the Combined Forces Command to tighten the protection of USFK bases and we also plan to provide security forces if there is a request (from the USFK),” the official added.

The South Korean military had revised its terror alert last November to tackle potential terrorist attacks, the official said.