Presidential Office to Lead Overseas Koreans' Safety Until the End... "Cho Tae-yong to Join US Visit After Situation Ends"

Presidential Office Directly Responds to Foreign Media Misinformation on Plane Carrying Korean Residents Arriving in Saudi Arabia
Close Communication with South Korea Amid North Korean Provocation Threats in the US

Cho Tae-yong, the Director of the National Security Office, will lead efforts to ensure the safety of Korean nationals in Sudan until their security is guaranteed, after which he will join President Yoon Suk-yeol's 5-night, 7-day state visit to the United States as part of the follow-up delegation.

The Presidential Office stated on the 24th, "Director Cho has been in charge of commanding the safety operations for our nationals in Sudan, and will join the state visit to the U.S. once the situation is resolved."

Since President Yoon and the National Security Office are acting as the control tower to secure the safety of Korean nationals, the intention is to fulfill responsibility through Director Cho.

Earlier, on the 21st, President Yoon was briefed by the National Security Office on the escalating clashes between government forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. Emphasizing that the safety of overseas nationals is the top priority, he instructed various measures and ordered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense to dispatch military aircraft.

On the previous day, President Yoon was again briefed on the situation in Sudan and reportedly reiterated the order to "rescue every single citizen without leaving anyone behind and ensure their safety." The government deployed elite special forces from the Army and Air Force to Djibouti near Sudan to evacuate local Korean nationals.

The Presidential Office also directly corrected foreign media reports claiming that a plane carrying 29 Korean nationals from Sudan had landed at Jeddah Airport in Saudi Arabia. Since this concerns the safety of local nationals, it is believed that the Presidential Office, which is in charge of command, intends to announce such news directly.

Earlier, Al Arabiya TV reported that a plane carrying 29 Koreans took off from Port Sudan, located about 800 km northeast of Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, and landed at Jeddah Airport.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Additionally, during the state visit, a situation room will be set up at the U.S. accommodation to prepare for potential provocations from North Korea, maintaining close real-time communication with the South Korean military.

Previously, on the 16th of last month, when President Yoon departed for Japan for the Korea-Japan summit, North Korea launched missiles, prompting the establishment of a situation room at a hotel in Tokyo. The Joint Chiefs of Staff and military leadership were briefed on unusual developments and follow-up responses.

A senior official from the Presidential Office said on the 21st, when asked by a reporter about "the possibility of additional provocations by North Korea during the state visit and the preparedness," that "a system will operate to connect Yongsan headquarters and the location of the president in real time to confirm responses and issue follow-up orders."

The official further explained, "Especially during this visit to the U.S. and the surrounding period, since provocations by North Korea can be anticipated, there will be parts that can respond automatically and immediately on site, as well as parts that gather additional information locally so that the South Korean and U.S. presidents can consult and issue follow-up instructions."

[Image source=Yonhap News]