U.S. likely to provide terrorism-related intelligence to S. Korea: source

SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- The United States may provide confidential terrorism
intelligence to South Korean troops overseas, a military source here said Sunday.
According to the government insider, Washington is planning to provide real-time
information about regional developments collected by the National
Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the Central Intelligence Agency and the Defense
Intelligence Agency.
The two governments have been discussing a memorandum of understanding outlining
the information-sharing plan, the source added.
"After the MOU is concluded, reports will be delivered to the Cheonghae unit in
Somali waters and the Dongmyeong unit in Lebanon," said the source. "I am aware
that both countries are also discussing whether to dispatch some DIA agents to
those units."
The 300-member Cheonghae unit, aboard the 5,000-ton destroyer Munmu the Great, is
escorting South Korean vessels and protecting other nations' commercial ships
from pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden. The peacekeeping unit in Lebanon
performs patrol missions and helps in reconstruction efforts.
"The Cheonghae unit is wiping out pirates in Somali waters by dispatching a
helicopter, but the mission is still very dangerous," the source said. "As we
have to always get ready to protect ourselves from sudden hazardous attacks, the
U.S. information-sharing is essential."
Another source said that, according to classified information, terrorists groups
including al-Qaida are purchasing U.S. weapons and assembling around Yemen where
the South Korean naval troops are operating.
Washington is believed to posses detailed data on terrorists, their movements and
hideouts. The U.S. government supposedly tracks how many suspected terrorists are
hiding in a particular building, and monitors their physical condition.
brk@yna.co.kr
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