Oceans and Fisheries Minister Kang Do-hyung (left) speaks with the skipper of a South Korean vessel passing near the Red Sea over the phone at the ministry's situation room in the government complex in Sejong, 112 kilometers south of Seoul, on Jan. 12, following US and British strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in response to Red Sea attacks by the Houthis. (Yonhap)

South Korea is considering various measures to secure safe passage for cargo ships in the Red Sea amid rising tensions on the major shipping route, the defense ministry said Monday.

Tensions in the Red Sea have escalated as the United States and Britain conducted strikes on military targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen last week following more than two dozen attacks by the rebels since mid-November.

"The defense ministry is making all efforts to ensure Korean vessels' safe shipping in the Red Sea. Various support measures are under consideration, taking into account various factors," ministry spokesperson Jeon Ha-kyu said in a regular press briefing, without elaborating.

A 300-member strong Cheonghae unit has been operating in the Gulf of Aden and nearby waters to conduct maritime security missions, including escorting civilian ships and anti-piracy operations.

Last week, South Korea and nine other countries issued a joint statement in support of precision strikes that the US and Britain conducted against Iran-backed Houthis in response to their repeated attacks in the Red Sea. (Yonhap)