South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday directed the quick dispatch of army plane to evacuate nationals from the Center East as tensions escalated quickly with intensified clashes between Israel and Iran in addition to its backed militias Hezbollah and Hamas.
“The president emphasised that defending South Korean nationals in Israel and the Center East is of utmost significance and instructed that every one crucial measures be taken,” his workplace mentioned in a press release issued following the emergency financial safety assembly.
“Particularly, he ordered the quick deployment of army transport plane to evacuate our residents and confused the necessity for shut cooperation with the worldwide group to swiftly restore stability within the Center East.”
Seoul’s resolution to dispatch army plane comes as tensions within the Center East intensify. On Tuesday, Iran fired over 180 missiles into Israel, whereas Israel launched a floor operation into Lebanon, concentrating on Hezbollah, within the early hours of the identical day.
Nevertheless, the presidential workplace withheld particular particulars in regards to the evacuation operations, together with the precise location and timing of the plane dispatch, consistent with the federal government’s customary practices primarily attributable to security considerations for the army and residents concerned.
This isn’t the primary occasion of South Korea deploying army plane to evacuate its residents from battle zones. For instance, in October 2023, a KC-330 Cygnus was deployed to evacuate South Korean nationals from Israel, and in April 2023, the identical plane was used to rescue residents from war-torn Sudan.
Throughout Wednesday’s assembly, Yoon additionally emphasised that every one attainable situations have to be thought of because the scenario unfolds, given the heightened uncertainty within the Center East.
“The president instructed the related ministries and businesses to keep up a 24-hour monitoring system by shut cooperation,” the press assertion learn.
“Moreover, he urged complete evaluation and evaluation of potential impacts and dangers on the nation’s economic system and safety, together with vitality provide, export-import logistics and provide chains, to make sure swift and efficient responses when crucial.”
The assembly was attended by key ministers and high officers, together with Nationwide Safety Adviser Shin Received-sik and Nationwide Intelligence Service Director Cho Tae-yong, in response to the South Korean presidential workplace.