http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-093004threat_lat,1,3350791,print.story?coll=la-home-headlinesAmerican installations in South Korea went on a high state of alert last week after intelligence was received that a terrorist attack might be planned in retaliation for the dispatch of Korean troops to Iraq.
More than 30,000 U.S. troops, along with family members and military contractors, have faced a 9 p.m. curfew since Sept. 24. Roadblocks and armored vehicles have cropped up around U.S. facilities here, while the South Korean government has upped security around its diplomatic establishments abroad.
A South Korean official said that in recent weeks very specific intelligence had been received from the United States, Australia and Indonesia warning of possible attacks against American and South Korea targets.
The U.S. Embassy in Seoul warned U.S. citizens of the increased threat of "suicide operations, bombings, or kidnappings," with the strongest language used in an advisory since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
"It seemed like a prudent thing to do since Korea had just deployed its troops," said a U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, about the citizen advisory.