Seoul: Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held a phone call with his Qatari counterpart Monday and asked for support for the safe return of South Korean nationals and stable energy supplies amid the ongoing conflict surrounding Iran, Seoul's foreign ministry said.
According to Yonhap News Agency, during the call with Qatar's Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Cho mentioned Qatar's recent announcement to suspend production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and asked for the country's cooperation to ensure stable energy supplies to South Korea. The Qatari minister requested Seoul's attention and support regarding recent damage to civilian facilities in Qatar and other member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council following attacks by Iran.
Cho expressed concern and condolences over the damage to civilians, as well as civilian facilities and energy infrastructure, in Qatar and other Gulf countries. He also thanked Qatar for arranging an emergency flight to carry South Koreans staying in the Middle Eastern country and expressed hope for continued close consultations on the issue.
A special flight carrying around 300 South Koreans departed Doha earlier in the day and is scheduled to arrive in Incheon, west of Seoul, at around 12:21 a.m. Tuesday. Flight disruptions at major airports in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and neighboring countries have left thousands of South Koreans stranded, prompting Seoul to seek ways to facilitate their departure through consultations with the relevant governments. About 2,000 South Koreans are currently staying in Qatar, according to the ministry.