In recent developments, South Korea’s intelligence agency has accused North Korea of planning “terrorist” attacks against its embassies and expatriates. According to the National Intelligence Service (NIS), they have detected signs of North Korea preparing to launch such attacks in countries such as China, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.
In response, South Korea has 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 NIS believes that these threats are linked to a wave of defections from North Korean expatriates who were stranded abroad due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Defectors face severe penalties in North Korea not only for themselves but also for their families and anyone associated with them. The NIS suspects that North Korean diplomats are sending false reports to Pyongyang accusing South Korea of encouraging defections in order to avoid being held responsible and punished indirectly.
As a result of these developments, the NIS is concerned that the North Korean regime may be preparing to retaliate against South Korean diplomats. Last year saw a record number of 196 North Koreans arrive in South Korea, including members of North Korea’s elite such as diplomats and their families. Recently, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared South Korea as his country’s “main enemy” and deemed any prospect of reunification as futile.