Kang Kyung-wha "Will Soon Meet with Secretary Pompeo... Will Discuss Troop Dispatch"

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha attended the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plenary meeting held at the National Assembly on the 9th and gave a briefing on current issues. Minister Kang reported on the Iran situation. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Park Cheol-eung, Lim Chun-han, Jeon Jin-young] On the morning of the 9th, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha stated at the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plenary session held at the National Assembly regarding the dispatch of troops to the Strait of Hormuz, "We are coordinating a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo. It seems it will happen soon. If the meeting takes place, there will be discussions."

When Lee Seok-hyun, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, asked about the government's position on the troop dispatch, Minister Kang replied, "There have been continuous requests for participation related to the Hormuz operation, and we are prioritizing the safety of our citizens and vessel navigation while continuously considering various options."

Regarding plans for the evacuation of Korean residents, she said, "We are making thorough preparations. We are constantly communicating with local diplomatic missions, and I also held a video conference with the local ambassador yesterday." She added, "Our Korean residents were confirmed to be safe as of yesterday afternoon. There are about 1,600 Korean residents in Iraq, mostly construction workers. We are conducting frequent inspections at each site and reviewing response plans for any possible emergencies."