A high-ranking government official said Monday that in the middle of last month, a man called the Korean embassy of an African country, saying he was a government official of Lebanon, and reported that "armed members of Hezbola will blow up US-related facilities in Korea at the end of May." The National Police Agency has also received secret information that an Arab Al Quaida member born in 1973 entered the country last month and is currently conducting an investigation.

With the World Cup just ahead, all services are on a maximum alert against terrorists and intelligence is continuously registered at government organizations and the military and police forces, which are preparing interception measures for terrorists entering the country. However, the authorities confess that as most of the terrorists on the list don't have a photograph, if they enter with a forged visa under a false name along with other tourists, it would not be easy to pick them out.

As a result police and intelligence officials are keeping a close watch on 230 foreign residents from eight countries from the Middle East and North Africa. A list of 420 terrorists from such as Al Quaida and Hezbola, from 64 countries was secured as of May 20 in order to prevent them from entering the country.

Beginning May 21, Incheon International Airport will change their system from making X-ray scans on selected bags of foreign travelers to all entering the airport. Also, from June 1, flight attendants who know the art of self-defense will be committed to all Korean planes. The National Police Agency placed three explosive ordinance disposal robots at the airport on April 20.

The military is making preparations against the possibilities of hijacking terror; two ground-to-air missiles have been stationed at each World Cup stadium and all private airplanes are banned from entering the 32km radius of stadiums from two hours before the games to 1 hour after. In addition F16 fighters will conduct combat air patrols over stadiums.

(Lee Dong-hyuk, dong@chosun.com )