Defense Minister Kim Dong-shin has called for thorough military readiness.
In a letter to military commanders Thursday, Kim said the security situation for South Korea is fragile and asked armed forces to remain vigilant against any unusual developments. Kim said South Korea cannot rule out the possibility of additional terrorist strikes not only in the United States, but also major cities around the world where U.S. troops are stationed.
Thirty-seven thousand U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea under a bilateral defense treaty.
The minister said that ahead of the World Cup and other major national events, the military should step up preparedness against a variety of terrorist strikes, such as airborne and suicide attacks on airports and major facilities ... and chemical and biological weapons attacks in populous regions.