Provided by South Korea’s Foreign Ministry on Friday, this map shows the latest travel advisory for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, marking North Kivu Province in black to indicate the strictest travel ban. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Provided by South Korea’s Foreign Ministry on Friday, this map shows the latest travel advisory for the Democratic Republic of the Congo, marking North Kivu Province in black to indicate the strictest travel ban. (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

South Korea plans to issue a travel ban for an eastern province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo due to intensifying fighting between government and rebel forces in the country, the foreign ministry said Friday.

The Level 4 travel ban, the highest of the country's four-scale travel warning system, will take effect Saturday for the Central African country's North Kivu Province, according to the ministry.

South Korea will maintain a Level 3 alert and special travel advisory for other parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Under a Level 3 alert, Seoul recommends citizens to leave the area.

The Central African country has recently been roiled by unrest as the M23 rebel group has been engaged in armed conflict with government forces. (Yonhap)