Lee Thanks Japan for Evacuating S. Koreans from Middle East

Seoul, March 18 (Jiji Press)–South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has expressed deep gratitude for Japan’s recent assistance in evacuating South Korean nationals from the Middle East. In a letter sent to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday, Lee thanked the Japanese government for allowing South Korean citizens to board its chartered flights from the region following U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran. The letter was released by the presidential office in Seoul on Wednesday. On March 11 and last Friday, Japanese government-chartered flights carried a total of 16 South Korean nationals and their family members from Saudi Arabia and Oman, respectively. Meanwhile, two Japanese nationals were evacuated from the region aboard a South Korean military transport aircraft on Sunday. In 2024, Japan and South Korea signed a memorandum to provide mutual support in evacuating their nationals from third countries in emergency situations. The latest case is the first conducted under this agreement. Lee said in the letter that mutual support in evacuating citizens from the Middle East will deepen the friendship and trust between the people of Japan and South Korea. The president added that his country will continue to cooperate closely to ensure the safety of citizens of both countries. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]