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Lee orders emergency response system led by PM over Iran crisis as he departs for Singapore

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By Yonhap
  • Published KST
  • Updated KST
President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hea Kyung walk toward the presidential jet at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, south of Seoul, Sunday, to depart for Singapore. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hea Kyung walk toward the presidential jet at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, south of Seoul, Sunday, to depart for Singapore. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung ordered the establishment of an emergency response system led by the prime minister, Sunday, to respond to any problems rising from the crisis in the Middle East during his ongoing trip to Southeast Asia, the Presidential Office said.

The instruction came shortly before Lee embarked on his trip to Singapore and the Philippines, according to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung.

The president also instructed officials to keep him informed of the government's response to the situation in the Middle East and its economic impact while ordering "utmost" precautions to ensure the safety of Koreans residing in the region.

The move comes one day after a joint U.S.-Israeli strike against Iran reportedly left Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dead.

Cheong Wa Dae expressed hope that the Middle East will regain stability and peace as promptly as possible, adding it was also taking "various measures" to ensure the safety of Koreans overseas.