Manila: Filipinos in South Korea had been alerted to the possibility of evacuation in the event that tensions on the Korean Peninsula take a turn for the worse.

Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez in his Twitter account @dfaspokesperson, issued a heads-up notice for Filipinos in South Korea on the developing situation on the peninsula.

“A state of heightened awareness remains in force for Filipinos in Korea,” Hernandez said.

The official also noted that the Philippine Embassy in Seoul is coordinating with members of the Filipino community (FilCom) on the steps being taken — including possible evacuation — in light of the fast developing situation.

“The embassy is also coordinating with FilCom members on the steps to be taken in case escalating tensions warrant an evacuation,” Hernandez said.

“The Philippine embassy in Seoul is closely monitoring the situation in coordination with the UN Command and US forces in South Korea,” it added.

South Korea hosts a sizeable Filipino community. Most Filipinos working in the highly developed North Asian country are employed in the manufacturing and services sector.

The heightened state of alert for Filipinos in Korea came in the aftermath of the deteriorating situation in the reclusive state.

North Korea earlier announced that it was observing a “state of war” with South Korea, while similarly warning of the possibility of launching a nuclear strike against South Korea and the United States.

The warnings were also issued in the aftermath of successive missile test launches carried out by Pyongyang.

The Philippines does not have diplomatic relations with North Korea.

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma said that the Philippines has contingency plans in place in the event that a missile launch is carried out by either or both sides.

“The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has a continuing contingency plan to respond to external threats, including previous missiles launched from the two Koreas,” reports quoted Coloma as saying.

“We maintain a posture of vigilance and adherence to diplomatic modes of conflict resolution,” the official added.

The Philippines lies 2,759 kilometres from Pyongyang, the North Korean capital. North Korea’s Taepodong 2 missile has a range of 4,000 kilometres.