SKorean leader pushes anti-terror laws

By Alex Jensen

SEOUL

South Korea's president urged politicians Tuesday to end a 14-year wait for the approval of anti-terrorism legislation first introduced following the Sept. 11, 2001 al Qaeda attacks in the United States.

Park Geun-hye's call came in the wake of a series of attacks claimed by Daesh that killed and maimed hundreds in Beirut and Paris -- and a warning from the country's National Intelligence Service (NIS) that 10 of its citizens are affiliated with the extremist group.

"They were not just praising [Daesh] but had close ties," ruling party lawmaker Joo Ho-young claimed after being briefed by the NIS, according to news agency Yonhap on Tuesday.

The possible passage of anti-terrorism laws has been contentious, primarily because of concerns about potential abuse of power by the NIS -- which will gain additional powers to access individuals' data should the bill pass.

The intelligence agency was embroiled in an election-meddling scandal surrounding Park’s presidential race victory in 2012, while the organization has come under additional scrutiny for invading citizens’ privacy.

Opposition lawmakers, however, did agree to discuss the long-stalled bills following this month’s attacks.

Local developments have also added momentum to the anti-terrorism agenda, after the NIS revealed last week that 48 foreign nationals had been deported over the last five years for extremist connections.

Earlier this year, it was widely reported that a Korean teenager had joined the Daesh cause in Syria.

The government now assumes that he has been killed.

Park emphasized the need to “protect people’s lives” in her comments at a cabinet meeting Tuesday.