S Korea warns of terror attacks on ships

The government's National Intelligence Service said it found an Arabic language website carrying a threat to 'attack ships carrying strategic materials for the US military'.

It cited a South Korean shipping company and eight other shipping firms from the United States, the Netherlands and Hong Kong as its targets, news reports said.

"We have told the Maritime and Fisheries Ministry, maritime police and other related agencies to take measures to guard against terrorism," a spokesman for the intelligence agency said on condition of anonymity.

The spokesman gave no further details.

South Korean media, citing intelligence sources, reported on Saturday that a militant group identifying itself as 'Supreme Headquarters of Islamic Militants in Iraq' posted its terror threat on a website on July 3.

South Korea reportedly issued the terror warning to all its six shipping companies that operate on sea routes to the Middle East.