The United States has reportedly scrapped its plan to use military bases in South Korea and Japan to temporarily house Afghan refugees. 

According to Reuters on Tuesday, U.S. officials decided against using the two countries due to logistics and geography among other reasons. It quoted two sources with knowledge of the matter. 

The report said South Korea had responded positively when the U.S. first suggested the idea. 

Meanwhile, Seoul's Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday that it is carrying out an operation to evacuate Afghan nationals who worked closely with the Korean government at its embassy in Kabul and in state-backed projects.

The ministry didn't disclose the number of Afghans it is evacuating, but ruling Democratic Party chair Song Young-gil said earlier that the government should bring home the 400 Afghans who worked closely with Korea.