South Korea expressed support Thursday for U.S. President Barack Obama's plan for airstrikes in Syria and expanded strikes in Iraq to defeat the Islamic State militant group.

Obama said Wednesday he won't hesitate to take action against the Islamic State in Syria, as he pledged to "degrade, and ultimately destroy" the extremists responsible for beheading two American journalists.

"South Korea voices its support to the efforts by the international community to defeat the Islamic State militant group," Noh Kwang-il, spokesman for Seoul's foreign ministry, told a regular press briefing. "As part of such support, Seoul has already announced its plan to provide a combined US$1.2 million in aid (to displaced Iraqi people)."

South Korea said in June and August that it plans to offer $200,000 in humanitarian assistance and an additional $1 million to help Iraqi refugees amid escalating violence in the country. (Yonhap)