By Bae Keun-min
Staff Reporter

Terror alert has been expanded to Korean deep-sea fishing vessels in the Persian Gulf as the government has received information that an unidentified Islamic terrorist group is targeting the fishermen.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MOMAF) said Wednesday that it has asked deep-sea fishermen in the Gulf to take precautionary steps against a possible terror attack, including emergency communication networks and limitation from alighting from vessels.

``Following the breakout of a war in Iraq, the government had already asked the fishermen to prepare for terror threats several times,’’ a MOMAF official said. ``But this time, we asked them to strengthen alert and escape systems from the region for when they decide the Gulf is really dangerous.’’

From last week, the government was preparing for possible terror attacks on airplanes and overseas vessels, in response to threats from an Islamic terrorist group which allegedly threatened to attack ships delivering U.S. military equipment to Iraq, putting South Korean shipping firms on high alert.

Currently, nine deep-sea fishing vessels by companies such as Insung and Rasa Trading, are operating in the Gulf.

Although the deep-sea fishing ships have a lower possibility of being attacked than commercial carriers transporting liquefied natural gas and crude oil, the alert has been expanded to the fishermen, MOMAF said.

``The deep-sea fisheries are netting fish near the Muscat Port of Oman, evaluated as the most safe harbor in the region since it is guarded by the British military,’’ a MOMAF official said. ``But we can not rule out the possibility of terror attacks.’’

kenbae@koreatimes.co.kr