July 12 (Bloomberg) -- South Korean aviation authorities received a letter sent by e-mail saying a suspected terrorist linked to the al-Qaeda network plans to board a plane bound for the Asian country.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority said the Korea Air Traffic Control Center received an e-mail saying a suspect named as Abdul Rajak will come to Seoul today with an invitation to attend a Christian event. It didn't say who sent the e-mail or from which country the aircraft is flying.

Safety authorities have increased security checks on all non- Koreans boarding flights to Seoul, as well as on cargo and luggage, said an official at the aviation agency, who declined to be identified.

South Korea has heightened security at its airports since terrorist groups linked to al-Qaeda warned of retaliation for the nation's decision to deploy 3,000 additional troops in Iraq, making it the third-largest presence after the U.S. and the U.K.

Last month, terrorists in Iraq executed Kim Sun Il, a South Korean interpreter working for a trading company in Iraq, after demanding South Korea withdraws its troops.

To contact the reporter of this story: Heejin Koo in Seoul hjkoo@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: July 12, 2004 00:21 EDT