The United States on Sunday strongly condemned a recent armed attack on the South Korean Embassy in Libya that left two local security guards killed and another wounded.

"We condemn in the strongest terms the attack on the Republic of Korea's Embassy in Tripoli on April 12," a State Department spokesperson said in response to the Yonhap News Agency's request for comment. "We send our condolences to the families of the victims."

Militants claiming to be affiliated with the Islamic State said they were behind the attack. If confirmed, it would be the first time the militant group has targeted a South Korean diplomatic mission in the Middle East.

Three South Korean embassy staff members, including two diplomats, were sleeping inside the embassy compound at the time of the attack and were unhurt. Seoul is considering transferring the embassy officials to Tunisia, where a temporary office is located.

"The ongoing escalation of violence in Libya against civilians and its critical institutions further widens a conflict that is fundamentally political, which in turn makes Libya and its citizens vulnerable to extremist actors," the State Department spokesperson said.

"We continue to support the United Nations-led process to establish a national unity government in Libya as the best hope for Libyans to address this terrorist threat and to confront the violence and instability that impedes Libya's political transition and development," the official said. (Yonhap)