Seoul: Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo has called for utmost efforts to secure alternative oil and naphtha supplies to reduce uncertainties for South Korean companies from supply disruptions caused by persisting turmoil in the Middle East, Yeo's office said Wednesday.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Yeo held an emergency virtual meeting late Tuesday with commercial attaches and trade officials dispatched to the country's major trading partners to discuss response to the supply crisis of major industrial materials, including crude oil and naphtha. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources highlighted Yeo's directive to utilize all available resources to find alternative sources by engaging with foreign governments and resource companies.

In the meeting, Yeo urged the officials to use all available resources to secure alternative sources of such materials by strengthening their outreach to foreign governments and resource companies to help reduce supply chain uncertainties for businesses here.

In a separate meeting with major business officials Wednesday, Yeo said he has asked India, the United Arab Emirates and other countries to help South Korea secure oil and naphtha supplies, according to the ministry.

Regarding the U.S. administration's trade inquiries into South Korea under Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act, the minister pledged efforts to safeguard national interests and ensure that the country is treated no less favorably by the U.S. compared with other major economies.

The ministry said it will continue efforts to address the energy supply and other trade-related issues concerning domestic companies while working to expand its trade network to help them secure new export markets and growth engines in the long term.