South Korea Raises Travel Alert on Cambodia-Thailand Border Clashes

SEOUL, July 27 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- South Korea on Sunday raised its travel alert for border areas in Cambodia and Thailand, marking the second adjustment in three days, amid escalating armed clashes between the two countries.

According to Yonhap news agency, the foreign ministry announced that Cambodia’s border provinces of Banteay Meanchey, Pailin, Battambang, Pursat and Koh Kong have been placed under a “special travel advisory” starting from 12 pm.

The advisory corresponds to Level 2.5 on South Korea’s four-tier travel warning system, urging nationals to refrain from travelling to or leaving the designated areas. It will remain in effect for 90 days and may be extended if necessary.

bootstrap slideshow

A similar advisory was also issued for Thailand’s provinces of Sa Kaeo, Chanthaburi and Trat, effective from 5 pm.

“We ask our nationals planning to travel to areas under the special travel advisory to cancel or postpone their trips. Those currently staying in the affected regions are advised to move to a safer location,” the ministry said in a statement.

On Friday, the ministry had issued the same advisory for Thailand’s southeastern border regions of Surin, Buri Ram, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani, as well as the border checkpoints in Chiang Saen and Mae Sai.

Cambodia’s northwestern border provinces of Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear were also included.

At least 33 soldiers and civilians have been killed and more than 130 wounded following renewed clashes, with exchanges of gunfire, shelling and rocket fire in the disputed border areas since Thursday.

-- BERNAMA-YONHAP