Seoul: The foreign ministry said Friday it reviewed ways to protect South Korean nationals in the Middle East and will take necessary steps to secure their safety amid growing tensions following a preemptive strike by Israel on Iran.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the message came at a meeting, presided over by Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina, focusing on the security situations in the Middle East. The meeting was attended via online links by some chiefs of the country's overseas missions in the region, including Seoul's top envoys to Israel, Iran, and Iraq.

Kim stated that the ministry will closely monitor the possibility of a sudden change in the security situation in the Middle East. "The ministry will do its best to maintain constant communication channels between the headquarters and overseas diplomatic missions so as to secure the safety of Korean nationals overseas," Kim said.

The foreign ministry reported that there has been no damage to South Korean nationals related to Israel's attack on Iran, and noted that about 100 South Koreans are currently residing in Iran.