Maritime police have ordered a patrol ship dispatched to Southeast Asian waters for anti-piracy drills to remain alert against possible terrorist attacks on South Korean ships.

The National Maritime Police Agency said the Pacific 5, a 3,000-ton patrol and rescue ship, is heading for the Straits of Malacca to take part in joint anti-piracy drills with Malaysian vessels.

The patrol ship, scheduled to arrive in the Straits of Malacca Sunday, was ordered to protect South Korean vessels amid mounting concerns over possible terrorist attacks in the region by al-Qaida-linked Muslim terrorist groups.

The latest move by the maritime police comes after a new threat by the al-Qaida terrorist network against countries supporting the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq, including South Korea.

South Korea has deployed 2,800 troops to Iraq.