163 S. Koreans arrive home from Israel on military aircraft
More than 160 South Korean nationals arrived home from Israel aboard a military aircraft late Saturday, the foreign ministry said, after an armed clash broke out between the Jewish state and the Palestinian Hamas group.
A KC-330 military transport plane carrying 163 South Koreans landed at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, just south of Seoul, at 10:45 p.m., the ministry said.
The plane flew to Israel on Friday and departed from Tel Aviv early Saturday.
The plane also brought 51 Japanese and six Singaporean nationals, as part of Seoul's efforts to provide humanitarian cooperation, the ministry added.
It marked the first such transportation of South Koreans by a military plane and the second flight to bring South Koreans home from Israel following the return of 192 people aboard a Korean Air plane Wednesday.
The government decided to dispatch the military plane as air carriers increasingly suspended flight operations to and from Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv amid the intensifying conflict, officials said.
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Koichi Mizushima, Japan's top envoy to Israel, expressed gratitude to the South Korean government for the emergency transportation of its people, according to Seoul's foreign ministry.
Of the 163 people on board, 82 were short-term travelers, while the rest were residents.
About 470 South Koreans remain in Israel. Most of them are residents living there long-term and have chosen to stay behind of their own accord, a foreign ministry official said, adding the diplomatic mission there continues to advise them to leave the area for safety.
Roughly 630 South Koreans had been staying in Israel before the military plane took the people aboard.
No South Korean casualties have been reported since the conflict began.
A rapid response team consisting of foreign ministry officials also boarded the military plane to assist with the transportation, the ministry said. (Yonhap)
(责任编辑:스포츠)
- ·Seoul defense exhibition aims to boost arms exports
- ·Foreigners turn net sellers of S. Korean stocks for 15 sessions
- ·Doosan Robotics to supply chicken
- ·TXT shatters records, tops charts with 3rd LP
- ·S. Korea to review additional measures against N. Korea's arms transfer to Russia
- ·SK chief discusses ICT partnerships with Estonia, Carribean Community
- ·'Scent of Ink' to be performed at Kennedy Center in Washington
- ·北, 러 주최 국제포럼서 '국제수송' 논의…무기거래 우회로 찾나
- ·US strategic bomber B
- ·Posco Future M achieves 100% recycling of refractory waste
- ·HD Korea Shipbuilding to build world's first ammonia
- ·BTS' V joined by Jimin in solo fan meeting 'Vicnic'
- ·Celltrion partners with US pharmacy chain for Yuflyma sales
- ·北, 러 주최 국제포럼서 '국제수송' 논의…무기거래 우회로 찾나
- ·[Coffee Klatch] Take a sip of Turkish coffee in Seoul
- ·HMM sale to face hurdles amid slowdown in shipping industry
- ·Cast of ‘Norma’ says opera difficult to sing but easy to enjoy
- ·S. Korea to review additional measures against N. Korea's arms transfer to Russia
- ·SC Bank Korea CEO nominated for fourth term
- ·BTS' V joined by Jimin in solo fan meeting 'Vicnic'
- ·Gyeongbokgung entrance platform, new signboard unveiled
- ·이용, 지도부 때린 서병수·홍문표에 "선당후사·솔선수범 하라"
- ·New government initiative offers W3b reward to combat digital piracy
- ·Korea extends fuel tax cut scheme until year's end
- ·HMM sale to face hurdles amid slowdown in shipping industry
- ·Ruling party chief clings on after election loss
- ·오세훈, ‘TBS 폐지’ 묻자 “그런 일 생겨서는 안 돼”
- ·FSC lays out plan to boost pet insurance enrollment