South Korea has asked its people to take extra caution in traveling to the region near the China-North Korea border, citing possible terror and abduction attempts by the North amid heightened tension after its latest nuclear test.

"It cannot be ruled out that the North could seek additional provocations such as terror attacks, luring and abduction of people," the embassy said in a notice posted on its website last Friday.

The embassy, in particular, warned against its people getting in touch with anyone suspected of being North Koreans in the cited region and urged them to make sure they let their families and friends know where they are going before leaving home.

The revved-up warning came right after the North carried out its fifth nuclear warhead detonation test on Friday in defiance of global warnings.

This added to safety concerns, which have been flaring up following high-profile defections of North Koreans including workers of restaurants run by Pyongyang in China and a high-ranking diplomat stationed in Britain. (Yonhap)