South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung has directed officials to safeguard Korean citizens in Venezuela and prepare for potential evacuations if needed. This directive follows a US military strike in Venezuela, as confirmed by President Donald Trump, amidst pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. The President emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of South Korean nationals and having evacuation plans ready for swift execution in case the situation deteriorates.
The South Korean foreign ministry is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting to evaluate the circumstances and strategize response actions. Approximately 70 South Korean nationals are currently in Venezuela, with around 50 residing in the capital city of Caracas, where US strikes occurred. Fortunately, there have been no reported incidents involving South Korean individuals amidst the recent events.
In response to the attacks, the ministry has established a task force dedicated to protecting overseas nationals and is collaborating with the South Korean diplomatic mission in Venezuela to guarantee their well-being. Meanwhile, President Trump announced a significant military operation against Venezuela, resulting in the capture of President Maduro, who faces charges of narco-terrorism in the US. Trump shared this information on his social media platform ‘Truth Social,’ mentioning that the operation was conducted in cooperation with US Law Enforcement, with further details to be disclosed during a forthcoming news conference at Mar-a-Lago.
