'First Overseas Business Trip in 6 Months' Minister Kang Kyung-wha to Hold Strategic Dialogue with German Foreign Minister in Berlin on the 10th

Exchange of views on COVID-19 response cooperation, practical bilateral cooperation, and major international issues
Lebanon Beirut explosion disaster, "Reviewing government-level support measures"

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha is speaking at the 3rd Diplomatic Strategy Coordination Meeting held on the afternoon of the 28th at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul to evaluate and share the situation of the US-China conflict and discuss response measures. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will hold the 2nd Korea-Germany Foreign Ministers' Strategic Dialogue with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in Berlin, Germany, on the 10th. This marks her first overseas trip in about six months since February. Minister Kang had been focusing on non-face-to-face diplomacy due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

On the 6th, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kim In-cheol stated at a regular briefing, "Germany is currently a key partner serving as the EU Council Presidency and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. The two ministers plan to exchange views on cooperation in response to COVID-19, practical cooperation between the two countries, and major international issues during this strategic dialogue," adding, "It will be an opportunity to strengthen strategic communication and cooperation between the two countries."

On the 4th (local time), the Foreign Ministry also announced that it is reviewing government-level support measures related to the Beirut explosion disaster in Lebanon. In addition, to support overseas nationals, it has established close communication with local security authorities to assess the damage situation. Excluding the Dongmyeong Unit, which is deployed in Lebanon as part of the UN peacekeeping forces, about 140 overseas nationals are estimated to be in the area.

Spokesperson Kim said, "We are actively reviewing support measures by closely monitoring the situation," and added, "No casualties among overseas nationals have been reported so far, but two overseas nationals' homes have been partially damaged."

The Korean Embassy in Lebanon formed an emergency response team immediately after the accident to confirm whether overseas nationals were affected.

Meanwhile, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health on the same day, the two explosions in Beirut have resulted in 135 deaths and 5,000 injuries. The estimated damage is projected to reach between 12 trillion and 18 trillion Korean won.