South Korea says it welcomes the end of a four-month standoff in Côte d´Ivoire between forces of the incumbent president and his elected rival.

The Foreign Ministry released a statement saying that its hopes for the west African nation to rebuild itself soon under the leadership of the incoming president Alassane Ouattara and now find harmony from the violent clashes that left hundreds dead.

The statement also said it hopes to bolster bilateral ties, which have steadily developed in a wide variety of areas since the two established diplomatic ties in 1961.

Civil war in the strife-torn nation ended after the arrest of former president Laurent Gbagbo, who refused to concede to his elected rival Alassane Ouattara.

The international community acknowledges Ouattara as the legal leader of the nation. Ouattara was backed by French and U.N. forces in forcing his rival to admit defeat in November's presidential election.