Seoul, Apr 1 (IANS): Even as the situation on the Korea Peninsula remained tense over heightened rhetoric and military preparedness on both sides, the Indian embassy sought to allay fears among the 8,000 strong community here by saying it saw little likelihood of a breakout of any imminent or active hostilities.
From all available indications, there is little likelihood of any imminent or active hostilities breaking out on the Korean peninsula, said a press release issued by the Embassy of India.
"As of now everything is normal.
"Government offices, financial institutions, airlines, hospitality industry, businesses, schools and colleges, as well as, foreign missions are functioning smoothly, as usual."
It said that all Indian embassy personnel and their family members are leading a normal life and following their regular routine.
The Indian community in South Korea is estimated at around 8,000, which includes businessmen, IT professionals, scientists, research fellows, students and workers. There are about 150 businessmen dealing mainly in textiles and gems and jewellery.
The embassy assured that should there be any adverse development, it will immediately alert the community.
Contact particulars of key members of the Indian community across the country have already been updated by the embassy. It advised the Indian community to check the embassy's website regularly.
The embassay advisory came on a day when South Korean President Park Geun-hye instructed the military to strongly respond to any North Korean provocation.
"If any provocation is made against our people and the country, (the military) should strongly respond (to the provocation) in an early stage without any other political considerations," South Korean President Park was quoted as saying at the annual policy plan briefing by the defence ministry.
Tensions between the West and North Korea reached new heights after Pyongyang saiod it was in a "state of war" and threatened to unleash military action in response to drills by thousands of US and South Korean troops across the border that were intended as a show of force to North Korea's belligerence.