Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung on Monday instructed the presidential office and all ministries to be put under an emergency response system to address heightened tensions in the Middle East following U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear sites. In his first meeting with senior presidential aides since taking office, Lee called the Middle East situation "very urgent" and urged authorities to do their utmost to ensure the safety of South Korean nationals in the region.
According to Yonhap News Agency, President Lee also directed ministries to consider including additional measures to address the Middle East crisis in the upcoming supplementary budget, if necessary. The meeting was attended by Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik and National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, among other key aides. It marks the first meeting of its kind since Lee's inauguration on June 4.