South Korea has issued a travel advisory warning its nationals against trips to Iraq.

The Foreign Ministry is advising against non-essential trips to the war-torn nation and is asking Korean nationals entering the country under unavoidable circumstances to report the location of their stay to the South Korean embassy.

Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon said the government has requested travelers to the gulf nation to pay special attention to personal safety.

He also said that despite worsening security conditions in Iraq, South Korea will stand by its commitment to send additional troops to help rebuild the war-torn country. Ban's comments came after two South Koreans were released following a 14-hour captivity by Shiite militiamen in Iraq.

Ban said that currently, there are 128 South Koreans residing in Iraq. Fourteen of them are staffers at the Korean Embassy and government offices, 27 are from non-governmental organizations, and the rest from private companies.