Korea calls to ease tensions after U.S-Israel attack on Iran, urges safety of nationals

People watch as smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 28. [AP/YONHAP]

 
The Korean government urged involved parties to work towards easing tensions after the United States and Israel launched a major attack on Iran Saturday, leading to a retaliatory strike by Tehran.  
 
The Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that it will "continue to closely monitor developments in the Middle East and take necessary measures to ensure the safety of our citizens, including evacuation plans in the event of an emergency situation."
 
It added that there have been no confirmed casualties among Korean nationals in Iran or Israel.
 

Related Article

• Korean nationals advised to leave Iran due to possible U.S. military strike

• Oil prices ease as Iran says it's prepared to take steps to reach deal with U.S.

• Israel's defense minister confirms that his country has attacked Iran, declares a state of emergency

• Extent of U.S. involvement in Israel's attack against Iran remains unclear as Trump declines to comment

The ministry then urged "all parties to make every effort to ease tensions in the region."
 
U.S. President Donald Trump said in a video clip posted on his social media Truth Social that the U.S. military "began major combat operations in Iran," saying the move is intended to defend Americans by "eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime" and to "ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon."  
 
The Pentagon dubbed the latest strikes "Operation Epic Fury.” In June last year, the U.S. military bombed three nuclear facilities in Iran. 
 

U.S. President Donald Trump announces that Washington has begun ″major combat operations″ in Iran after Israel and the United States conducted strikes on Iran, in a video released Feb. 28. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

President Lee Jae Myung instructed officials to assess the possible impact of the U.S. and Israel attack on Iran while prioritizing the safety of Korean nationals in the Middle East, Blue House spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a statement Saturday.
  
The Blue House National Security Office (NSO) said in statement it convened an emergency working-level committee meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) to assess the situation in Iran on Saturday evening.
 
The participants reviewed the safety of Korean nationals located in the region and assessed developments in Iran and the broader Middle East. They also evaluated the impact of the current situation on national security and the economy and reviewed related ministries' response measures and future plans.
 
The participants agreed to closely monitor developments and prepare for potential scenarios in case the situation becomes prolonged. The results were later reported to the president, the NSO said.  
 

Rocket trails from Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system are seen over Tel Aviv on Feb. 28. The United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, with Israel's public broadcaster reporting that the Iranian supreme leader had been targeted. [AFP/YONHAP]

Korea has maintained the Level 3 travel advisory for all of Iran, strongly advising Koreans to leave the country.
 
Second Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jina chaired a meeting with the Korean embassies in Iran and Israel to assess the current situation and review safety measures for Korean nationals. The meeting was attended by the embassies in Lebanon, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait, and Turkmenistan.  
 
"Tensions in the Middle East are rapidly escalating due to attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran, and retaliatory attacks by Iran," Kim said. She called to "thoroughly implement the safety measures for our national prepared through close consultation between the ministry and relevant embassies."
 

Smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 28. [AP/YONHAP]

Kim stressed that the current situation could have far-reaching implications for many countries in the region and urged the embassies in Iran and Israel and diplomatic missions in the region to closely maintain communication.
 
The embassies in Iran and Israel announced that they issued safety notices to Korean residents immediately after the airstrike and are checking their safety through emergency networks.
 
Seoul's Ministry of National Defense also inspected the safety of overseas deployed units.
 
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back immediately ordered the inspection of the safety of troops deployed in the region, including the Dongmyeong and Cheonghae units, and instructed relevant departments within the Defense Ministry and the Joint Chiefs of Staff to prioritize the safety of personnel.
 

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]