Presidential office to monitor Middle East 'around the clock' following Iran's attack on Israel

President Yoon Suk Yeol called for all-out measures to protect Korean nationals amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.

Officials take part in a meeting to review the security and economic situation in the Middle East co-chaired by Sung Tae-yoon, director of national policy at the presidential office, and Kim Tae-hyo, principal deputy national security adviser, at the Yongsan presidential office in central Seoul on Sunday. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

The presidential office said it would monitor the situation in the Middle East "around the clock" and take all necessary steps to protect Korean nationals and companies in a meeting Sunday afternoon regarding the security and economic situation amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.

On Saturday, Israel launched a series of airstrikes on Iran in retaliation against Tehran's ballistic missile barrage earlier in the month.

Sung Tae-yoon, director of national policy at the presidential office, and Kim Tae-hyo, principal deputy national security adviser, chaired the emergency meeting at the presidential office in Yongsan District, central Seoul, during which attendees evaluated the situation in the Middle East following the attack and the safety of overseas Korean nationals, companies and diplomatic missions.

The meeting addressed the protection of nationals and evacuation measures in preparation for the possibility of a worsening situation, the presidential office added in a statement.

The presidential office determined that although the impact of geopolitical instability in the Middle East on Korea's economy is expected to be limited for now, it plans to continue to "maintain a 24-hour monitoring system to prepare for the possibility of sudden changes in the situation in the Middle East region and immediately implement step-by-step measures, according to the response manual, if necessary."

The office added that though Israel's attack on Iran, which took place over the weekend, has not yet had impacted the domestic financial market, it will closely monitor any repercussions as the situation progresses.

The office noted that the country's current crude oil stockpile is sufficient for more than 200 days and confirmed that there are currently no issues with the supply, demand and transportation of crude oil and gas.

A view of Tehran after several explosions were heard in Iran on Saturday. Israel announced the launch of ″precise strikes″ on military targets in Iran on Saturday, in retaliation for earlier missile attacks against it. [AFP/YONHAP]

Seoul additionally resolved to continue to monitor the conflict's damages and ripple effects on not only domestic companies, but also Korean companies operating in the Middle East.

The presidential office said it would "cooperate closely with the international community to quickly restore stability in the Middle East and to preemptively take necessary measures," according to future developments.

President Yoon Suk Yeol likewise stressed that the safety of Korean nationals is the government's "top priority" and ordered "all necessary measures to be taken in preparation for a worsening situation," the presidential office said Saturday.

Earlier Saturday, Yoon received a briefing on Israel's attack on Iran from the presidential National Security Office (NSO) after a meeting presided over by Yin Sung-hwan, second deputy director of the NSO, regarding safety measures for Koreans living in the region.

The Korean government said it would operate a round-the-clock task force across government agencies to monitor tensions in the Middle East and support related measures.

Seoul’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lee Jae-woong likewise expressed “deep concern” over Israel's recent attack on Iran on Sunday, calling involved parties to break away from the "cycle of attack and retaliation.”

Earlier this month, the Korean government airlifted 96 Koreans out of Lebanon on a KC-330 military transport plane. The first evacuation operation came in the wake of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

There are around 110 nationals in Iran and 480 in Israel as of early October, the Korean Foreign Ministry said.

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