South Korea has slapped its highest-level travel ban on Balochistan, barring its citizens from travelling to the province amid a surge in violence linked to coordinated terrorist attacks, reports South Korean news agency Yonhap. The Level 4 alert, the highest of South Korea's four-tier travel warning system and amounting to a full travel ban, took effect at 11pm on Monday, according to the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Some areas of Balochistan are already subject to travel restrictions imposed by the Pakistani government. Under South Korean law, citizens who enter or remain in areas covered by a Level 4 travel ban without special permission could be penalised.

The foreign ministry asked South Korean nationals planning to visit Balochistan to cancel their trips and also said those already in the province should leave immediately.

The decision underscores growing international security concerns regarding regional stability and the safety of foreign nationals operating in parts of Pakistan.