Zayitun Unit Put On Maritime Terror Alert

Because a terrorist group called the “Headquarters of Islamic Militants in Iraq” sent a warning that they will attack foreign ships carrying supplies for the U.S. military, an alert is set for shipment plans for the Zayitun unit.

The Korea Joint Chiefs of Staffs said on Sunday, “We warned all related harbors and their facilities to be on high alert since the shipment for the Zayitun unit will start in the middle of this month. However, we are well prepared for various kinds of maritime terror attacks and therefore, are not so worried.”

Although the terrorist group directly mentioned the Hanjin Shipping Co. Ltd., a Korean shipping company, as their target, the ships that have loaded equipments and materials for the Zayitun unit since last Friday are foreign civilian transports capable of carrying 25,000 tons each. One terrorist method the JCS is preparing against is the ramming of small ships into cargo ships after filling the smaller ships with explosives.

The JCS plans to escort the private cargo ships with the King Kwanggaeto 3,200 ton escort ship. The King Kwanggaeto is loaded with Harpoon missiles and Sparrow missiles. Specially trained marine forces, who can implement underwater explosions and other measures against terrorist attacks, will be aboard the escort ship.

When a bomb-loaded suicide ship is located, the escort ship can launch Harpoon missiles from a 130-kilometer distance and fire its 5-inch naval gun from a 20-kilometer distance.

The special marine combatants are able to snipe at terrorists and to infiltrate onto terrorist ships to destroy them from inside.

In addition, the King Kwanggaeto will receive real-time maritime information from the U.S. Pacific Military Headquarters and the Central Military Headquarters via a high-tech maritime surveillance information system bought from the U.S. Maritime Information Bureau.

Furthermore, the JCS is considering the deployment of special combatants aboard the private cargo ships.

An official of the JCS explained, “There could be terror attacks when passing through the Malacca Straits where Islamic terror groups and pirates are active, and when ships are unloading after arriving in Kuwait. We are already sharing information on major terrorist groups with the U.S. military.”

Ho-Won Choi bestiger@donga.com