South Korea condemns attack on its Libya embassy

The South Korean government on Monday condemned an attack on its embassy in the Libyan capital of Tripoli, adding that any act of aggression on a diplomatic mission can never be justified.

Unidentified gunmen opened fire at the embassy's guard post on Sunday, killing two security guards and wounding another. There were no South Korean casualties.

Militants claiming to be affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) terror group claimed responsibility for the attack, Yonhap News Agency reported.

In a statement, the foreign ministry stressed that the principle of non-aggression against diplomatic facilities should be respected.

"We reaffirmed our firm position that an attack or violence on a diplomatic mission can't be justified for any reason," a ministry official said.

The government, meanwhile, convened an inter-agency meeting to assess the situation and discuss ways to protect its nationals in Libya and other parts of Africa and the Middle East.

South Korea is considering transferring its two diplomats and one embassy staffer in Tripoli to Tunisia, where a temporary office is located.