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S. Korea loses track of 18-year-old who joined IS militant group

October 20, 2015

SEOUL (Yonhap) — South Korea has lost track of the 18-year-old loner who joined the Islamic State militant group in Syria, a ruling party lawmaker said Tuesday, citing South Korea’s spy agency.

The National Intelligence Service was aware of the whereabouts of the young man, identified only by his surname Kim until May, but he has since gone off the grid, Lee Chul-woo of the ruling Saenuri Party said to reporters after being briefed by the spy agency during the parliamentary inspection.

Kim disappeared on Jan. 10 during a trip to the southern Turkish town of Kilis. South Korea believes that Kim later joined the IS militant group.

Lee also said South Korea canceled the passports of two other South Koreans who Seoul suspect had attempted to join the Islamic State in Syria.

South Korea also kept five foreigners from visiting Seoul as they tried to smuggle in ammonium nitrate, a bomb ingredient, Lee said.