South Korea strongly condemns Iran's attack on Israel

An anti-missile system operates after Iran launched drones and missiles toward Israel, as seen from Ashkelon, Israel on Sunday. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

The South Korean government has strongly condemned Iran's large-scale attack on Israel in an official statement on Sunday.

"We are closely monitoring the situation with deep concern and urge all parties to exercise restraint to prevent the situation from worsening," Seoul's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

No South Korean casualties have been reported in Israel in the aftermath of the Iranian attack as of Sunday, the Foreign Ministry said.

Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones in its first direct assault on Israel late Saturday night. More than 99 percent of the missiles and drones were intercepted, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said.

“Around 500 Korean nationals are residing in Israel, and no casualties or damage have been reported as of yet,” said the Foreign Ministry. “The ministry held a situation assessment meeting to discuss measures to strengthen the safety of Koreans in the region. We plan to continue to seek necessary safety measures in the future.”

President Yoon Suk Yeol presided over an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss the economic and security-related impacts of escalating tensions in the Middle East, the presidential office said.

Iran’s attack Saturday is seen as retaliation for an Israeli strike on April 1 on an Iranian consulate in Syria that killed seven members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including a top commander.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement saying that he “strongly condemns the serious escalation represented by the large-scale attack launched on Israel” by Iran.

“Neither the region nor the world can afford another war,” Guterres said.

The UN Security Council will convene an emergency meeting regarding the attack on Sunday, local time.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]