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| ▲ President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Dec. 30, 2025. (Pool photo) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This AFP photo shows a fire at a military complex in Venezuela after a series of explosions in Caracas following a U.S. strike against the Venezuelan capital on Jan. 3, 2026. (Yonhap) |
(LEAD) Lee-Venezuela
(LEAD) Lee orders protection of S. Korean nat'ls in Venezuela, evacuation plans prepared: Cheong Wa Dae
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SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung instructed officials Saturday to ensure the protection of South Korean nationals in Venezuela and to prepare evacuation plans if necessary, his office said.
Lee's instruction came on the heels of a U.S. military strike against the South American country, confirmed by U.S. President Donald Trump, amid his administration's pressure campaign on Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
"President Lee Jae Myung instructed officials to ensure the thorough protection of South Korean nationals in Venezuela and to meticulously prepare evacuation plans so they can be swiftly carried out in case the situation further worsens," a Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson said in a message to media.
The foreign ministry in Seoul plans to convene an emergency meeting late Saturday to assess the situation and discuss response measures, the spokesperson said.
Around 70 South Korean nationals are staying in Venezuela, including about 50 in the capital of Caracas, where U.S. strikes were reported. No casualties involving South Koreans have been reported so far.
The ministry set up a task force for protecting overseas nationals following the attacks and is working with its diplomatic mission in Venezuela to ensure their safety.
Trump announced the United States has carried out a large-scale military strike against Venezuela and captured Maduro, who has been charged with narco-terrorism in the U.S.
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