South Korea on Thursday condemned a recent terrorist killing in Kazakhstan and pledged to continue efforts to root out terrorism in the world.

On Sunday, three civilians and three soldiers were killed in a rampage by gunmen in Kazakhstan's northwestern city of Aktobe.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said Wednesday the attackers were followers of pseudo-religious groups who had received instructions from abroad.

"Our government cannot hide our shock and concern over the loss of innocent lives in the terrorist (attack)," Cho June-hyuck, spokesman of Seoul's foreign ministry, said in a statement. "We strongly condemn this terrorist act."

South Korea offers its condolences to the victims' families and the Kazakh people and government and firmly believes that terrorism cannot be justified for any reason, the spokesman said.

"We support the Kazakh government's efforts to eradicate terrorism and will continue to join the international community's efforts to stamp it out," he added. (Yonhap)