Government to Deploy 'Presidential Aircraft' on the Afternoon of the 18th... Rescue of Koreans from Japanese Cruise Ship

Some of the 14 passengers from 'Diamond Princess' transferred domestically
"Discussing transfer scale, rapid response team setup, temporary housing location, and other matters"
Confirmed cases on cruise rise to 454
US deploys 2 charter planes to evacuate over 300 nationals

Presidential Aircraft (Air Force No. 3)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The government plans to deploy the presidential aircraft on the afternoon of the 18th to transport Korean passengers aboard the Japanese cruise ship, where confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) are rapidly increasing. The government is currently consulting with the Japanese government to finalize a more detailed flight plan.

According to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) and related ministries, the government will dispatch the presidential aircraft (Air Force No. 3) to Haneda Airport in Japan on the afternoon of the 18th to transport some of the 14 Korean nationals aboard the 'Diamond Princess,' which is forcibly docked at Yokohama Port due to the surge in COVID-19 confirmed cases, who wish to return home.

A CDSCH official explained, "We are consulting with the Japanese government on a plan to dispatch the presidential aircraft to Haneda Airport this afternoon to transport Korean nationals aboard the ship who wish to return to Korea."

There are a total of 14 Koreans aboard the 'Diamond Princess,' including 9 passengers and 5 crew members. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Korean Consulate General in Yokohama contacted the Korean passengers to survey their willingness to be transported, and some passengers have expressed their desire to be transported.

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said, "Other matters such as the scale of transportation, the formation of a rapid response team, and the location of temporary living facilities are currently under discussion," adding, "The number of those wishing to be transported will be finalized by the morning of the 18th."

As of the 17th, the number of confirmed cases on the 'Diamond Princess,' which has been docked at Yokohama Port for just over two weeks since the 3rd, has risen to 454. Although the total number of passengers is about 3,700, only about 1,700 have been tested for COVID-19, meaning roughly one in four has tested positive. The number of confirmed cases is expected to increase sharply going forward.

The United States has already deployed two charter flights to transport about 300 of its nationals. Approximately 300 Americans who were aboard the cruise ship moved to Haneda Airport via buses arranged by the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo and arrived at Travis Air Force Base in California and Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. This decision reflects the U.S., Japan's closest ally, no longer trusting Japan's quarantine system. Among the approximately 380 Americans aboard the cruise ship, 44 have already been confirmed infected with COVID-19.

Following the U.S., Australia also plans to transport about 200 of its nationals. Additionally, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Canada, and Italy have announced plans to send charter flights to evacuate their nationals aboard the cruise ship. The Japanese government plans to conduct COVID-19 tests on all passengers and will begin disembarking those who test negative sequentially from the 19th.