South Korea Embassy in China Warns About North Korea’s Possible Terrorist Attacks

The South Korean Embassy in China, particularly in Beijing warned South Koreans who live in China about possible terrorist attacks by the North Korea due to the recent desertion of a senior diplomat.

According to the sources, the Korean Embassy urged South Korean residents in Beijing as well as the South Korean travelers  to avoid visiting the North Korea-China border or even having a contact with North Koreans through messages conveyed to South Koreans expatriate groups in China.

"Given the recent defection of a high-level North Korean official and North Korea's threats of provocations, there seem to be high possibilities of terrorist attacks and abductions of our citizens. South Koreans are advised to pay special attention to their personal safety," the Korean Embassy message said.

Moreover, South Koreans in China are also advised to refrain from trips to the border areas and meeting with any suspected North Koreans and urging them to repeatedly and surely check the safety information updates given by the embassy.

On July 22, a message was released by the Korean embassy with a similar warning. While on April, Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, ordered a terrorists attacks on South Korea in response to the group defection of 13 North Korean restaurant workers in China.

Pyongyang blamed Thae Yong-ho, who is a minister of the North Korean Embassy in London, due to the second warning following a desertion given to him and his family to South Korea. Thae's was also blamed for desertion on South Korea's "anti-North Korean smear campaign."

According to sources, North Korea has been seeking to dispatch agents and investigators to China or Southeast Asian countries as part of terrorist operations against South Koreans. There are also signs that appeared following Thae's defection.