SEOUL, Oct 2 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday ordered an immediate dispatch of military transport aircraft to bring South Koreans home from regions affected by the escalating conflict in the Middle East, Yonhap News Agency quoted his office.
Yoon held an emergency meeting with senior government officials to discuss measures for ensuring the safety of Korean nationals in the region and minimising its impact on the economy and energy supplies following Iran's recent missile attacks on Israel.
"The president ordered the immediate dispatch of military transport aircraft to evacuate Korean nationals, saying the protection of our citizens in Israel and the Middle East is a top priority," presidential spokesperson Jeong Hye-jeon said in a press briefing.
As of Wednesday, approximately 130 Korean nationals were in Lebanon, 110 in Iran and 480 in Israel, according to the foreign ministry.
Yoon also ordered the government to operate a 24-hour monitoring system to assess related risks and take "pre-emptive" measures to minimise the potential impact of the Middle East conflict on the national economy.
"Security in the Middle East is directly related to global oil prices, and it also affects our energy supplies and supply chain," he said.
South Korea is the fourth-largest crude oil importer in the world, primarily importing its crude oil from the Middle East.
Iran fired around 180 ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday, days after Israel killed the leader of Iran-backed Hezbollah and sent troops into Lebanon. Israel vowed to respond, fueling concerns over a larger conflict in the Middle East.
-- BERNAMA-YONHAP=
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