The nation's main intelligence agency has announced plans to set up a task force that would be in charge of collecting terrorism-related intelligence.

The National Intelligence Service said Thursday that it has already banned the entry into the country of more than 5,000 suspected terrorists from some 80 countries.

Such moves highlight the reality that South Korea could be a target of terrorist attacks following its deployment of several thousand soldiers to post-war Iraq.

The spy agency is also seeking to resubmit a counter-terrorism bill to the National Assembly which had failed to be passed by the previous parliament. Some civic groups oppose the legislation, citing concerns that it could infringe upon basic human rights.