Leaders from the 21 countries are scheduled to gather in the southeastern harbor city Nov. 18-19 for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The APEC forum begins Nov. 12 and will bring together roughly 6,000 people, according to organizers.

South Korea's intelligence agency warned that meeting was a potential target for a terrorist attack by al-Qaida extremists as the event attracts leaders from the United States, Britain and Australia, which dispatched troops for anti-terror war in Iraq.

South Korea has also deployed about 3,200 troops in Iraq, making it the largest U.S.-led coalition partner after Britain in Iraq. South Korea, Washington's key ally in East Asia, hosts more than 30,000 American troops under a mutual defense treaty.

"We don't believe we are a safe heaven. We have been exposed to international terrorist threats," said a senior official in charge of counter-terror division in the National Intelligence Service.

The warning came amid fears of a terrorist attacks mounted after multiple terror attacks in London during this year's Group of Eight nations summit in Scotland.

The intelligence official said the London bombings indicated that disrupted major international gatherings to demonstrate their existence to the world community.

"International terrorist groups feel that these types of events present an excellent opportunity for them to increase the exposure of their propaganda and their doctrines," the official said on condition of anonymity.

"The host city of Busan is exposed to possible maritime attacks because it is a harbor city," he said. "In addition, as the city is an international tour site, it is difficult to control public traffic."

The intelligence official added, however: "We do not have any specific intelligence coming in that tells us that there will be a terrorist event during APEC."

"Although there isn't specific intelligence, we are carrying out our duties on full alert to prepare for contingencies," he said.

The country's top police officer also said there were no signs of terror attacks in South Korea.

"So far, there hasn't been anything special with regard to terrorism intelligence," Huh Joon-young, commissioner general of the National Police Agency, told a press conference.

"We're working very closely with intelligence and investigative agencies of various countries. We will mobilize all security forces available during the APEC forum," Huh said.

The policy chief said his agency was confident of countering any terrorist attacks during the summit that will bring together roughly 6,000 people, including leaders from 21 member countries.

"Since September, we have maintained the APEC security and protection force, composed of 30,000 policemen," Huh said.

Tens of thousands of extra security forces will be deployed to Busan during the event. Because of the summit venue's coastal location, a naval blockade will also be imposed.

A no-fly zone will be designated around the summit venues and anti-aircraft weapons will be installed nearby, officials said.

Police patrols were focused on the country's mass transit systems because terrorists targeted London's subway trains and a bus during the morning rush hour. Thousands of volunteers will monitor railways and subway stations across the country.

South Korean authorities have barred about 1,000 foreign activists from the country and kept 350 under close surveillance during APEC meetings to prevent protests.

The Seoul government has put its airports and other major facilities and U.S. facilities on high alert. The country's security measures have also focused on ports that house volatile liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas terminals. South Korea is the world's second-largest LNG buyer after Japan.

Terror analysts warn South Korea can be a target of terrorist attacks because it is a key member of the U.S.-led coalition operating in Iraq.

"Terrorists attacked Britain because it has second largest foreign military contingent in Iraq after the United States," said Choi Jin-tae, the head of the private Korea Research Institute on Terrorism. "In this sense, South Korea is mostly likely to be on terrorists' list of attack."

The London bombings come a year after a warning, he said, reminding that suspected Muslim terrorist groups threatened to attack South Korea a year ago unless its withdraws its troops from Iraq.

South Korea was also named by a senior al-Qaida member arrested as one of the secondary targets the terrorists have designated along with Japan, Singapore and the Philippines.

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