Seoul seeks to minimise fallout from US strikes on Iran
SEOUL: The presidential office ordered ministries to prioritise the protection of South Korean nationals and to minimise potential security and economic fallout from the US military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. The ministries have since taken emergency measures in response.
South Korean National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac convened an emergency meeting at noon Sunday (June 22), hours after the US military bombed three nuclear facilities in Iran, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said during a televised briefing.
'At today's meeting, discussions focused on the impact of the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities — which follows the Israel-Iran conflict — on our security and economy, while also accurately assessing the current situation,' Kang said.
'(National Security Office) Director Wi Sung-lac emphasised that, above all, it is important to protect the lives and safety of our nationals and to ensure the stable continuity of daily life," she added.
According to Kang, Wi also 'called on relevant ministries to maintain close communication and cooperation to minimise the impact that the recent series of developments in the Middle East may have on the security and economic situation of the Korean Peninsula."
Kang underscored that 'the discussions spearheaded by the presidential office will continue, closely monitoring developments related to the current situation and taking into account potential changes in circumstances.'
The emergency meeting was also attended by first deputy National Security Adviser Kim Hyun-jong, second deputy adviser Lim Woong-soon, and third deputy adviser Oh Hyun-joo, as well as Senior Presidential Secretary for Economic Growth Ha Joon-kyung, among others.
Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina held a joint emergency response meeting between the Foreign Ministry headquarters and the South Korean Embassy in Iran on Sunday afternoon to review safety measures for South Korean nationals and assess the situation in Iran, according to the Foreign Ministry in Seoul.
'Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina called for leaving no stone unturned to ensure the safety of our nationals living in Iran, given that the situation could further deteriorate following the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities,' the ministry said in a statement.
Kim also 'ordered watertight measures to ensure the safety of embassy staff.'
'The Foreign Ministry will devise necessary measures for the safety of our nationals while closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East,' the ministry added.
As of Saturday, around 60 South Korean nationals remained in Iran, down from approximately 110 who were staying in the country as of June 13, when the exchange of airstrikes began with Israel's surprise attack on Iran.
According to the Foreign Ministry, a total of 56 South Korean nationals and their Iranian family members had fled Iran and entered Turkmenistan as of Saturday. Among them were 51 South Koreans and 5 Iranians.
In Israel, around 460 South Korean nationals remain. This follows the evacuation of 25 South Koreans and one Israeli family member to Jordan on Thursday, and a separate evacuation of 23 South Koreans to Jordan on June 16.
On the same day, Second Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Choe Nam-ho held an emergency session for a comprehensive situation assessment meeting to evaluate potential effects on domestic industries, including energy, exports, logistics, supply chains and South Korean companies operating in the region.
After the meeting, the ministry said it has activated an emergency response team in response to rising Middle East tensions.
The meeting was held amid growing concerns over possible disruptions to crude oil and liquefied natural gas or LNG imports, as well as the operational status of tankers navigating waters near the Strait of Hormuz — a vital chokepoint for both South Korean and global energy shipments.
According to a database provided by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, around 99 percent of Middle East-produced crude oil bound for South Korea passes through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the KOTRA.
Separately, Acting Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il convened a closed-door emergency response meeting with relevant agencies on Sunday afternoon to assess the economic impact of the US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.
Tensions escalated as US President Trump announced early Sunday that the United States had struck three Iranian nuclear sites — in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan — joining Israel's airstrikes against Iran on the 10th day of the Israel-Iran conflict.
In response to the US strikes, the Foreign Ministry said Sunday, 'Our government hopes that tensions in the region will be alleviated rapidly and will continue to participate in international efforts toward that end.'
'Our government places importance on resolving the Iranian nuclear issue from the perspective of nuclear nonproliferation and is closely monitoring developments related to the attack on nuclear facilities in Iran this morning, Korea time,' the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. - The Korea Herald/ANN
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