Sri Lankan gov't says 26,000 workers in S. Korea safe, tells families not to pan

Sri Lanka's government has reassured families of over 26,000 migrant workers in South Korea of their safety as a tense situation prevails in the region, an official said here on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka's Foreign Employment Minister Dilan Perera assured citizens that if any threat exists the government will immediately take steps to return all Sri Lankan workers currently in South Korea home.

Perera downplayed the threat from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday calling all foreigners to leave South Korea but insisted that precautions have been taken to safeguard thousands of Sri Lankans working there.

"We have already held talks with the International Organizations for Migration (IOM) and taken steps to evacuate all Sri Lankans if they are in any danger. But at the moment there is nothing to worry about," he said.

South Korea is one of the largest markets in the far east for Sri Lankan labor with over 26,000 locals estimated to be working in that country.

According to international media the DPRK has been increasing its threats to attack South Korea over the past few weeks creating a tense situation.

The DPRK ramped up the rhetoric again on Tuesday -- warning foreigners on state television to leave South Korea for their own safety.