SEOUL. July 6: Cash-strapped South Korea is to close 20 overseas embassies and consulates and cut 50 diplomatic posts as part of a drive aimed at whittling down expenses, officials said today, reports AFP.

The Foreign Ministry said it would shut the low-priority missions by the end of this year to save an unspecified amount of money.

"We will shut down these missions gradually until the end of the year or thereabouts." a Foreign Ministry spokesman told AFP.

Other officials said the streamlining was "in line with government efforts to beat the economic crisis."

Only six missions have been earmarked for closure so far. an official said — embassies in Belgium. Uruguay. the Cameroon. Gambia and Yugoslavia and a consulate, in Jeddah. Saudi Arabia.

Fifty diplomatic posts will be eliminated over 1998 and 1999. officials said, adding that Clans to buy new buildings to ouse Seoul's missions abroad would be shelved for the time being.