S. Korean peacekeepers in Lebanon safe after mortar fire nearby: official

(ATTN: RECASTS lead; UPDATES with comments, details throughout; CORRECTS status of
threat)
By Sam Kim
SEOUL, Jan. 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korean peacekeeping forces in Lebanon remain
unharmed by mortar fire launched from Israel into their surrounding region but
are operating under an elevated alert, an official here said Friday.
"The shells fell about 16 kilometers from where our troops are stationed," Park
Sung-woo, a spokesman at the Ministry of National Defense, said. "No harm has
been done."
Park revised his earlier estimate of 10 kilometers, and withdrew his statement
that all peacekeeping units, including South Korea's Dongmyeong contingent, came
under an elevated alert after the attacks on Thursday (Korean time)
"Our unit has raised its alarm level from yellow to red independently," he said,
adding the bomb shells hit an area overseen by Italian troops.
South Korea has some 360 troops stationed in Lebanon's southern city of Tyre as
part of the U.N. Interim Force In Lebanon, or UNIFIL.
Park said South Korean commanders have barred their troops from leaving the base
for extra caution even though UNIFIL has only made a call to reduce activities
beyond armed stockades.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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