Trio arrives after 26-hour journey via three countries following flight cancellations; meetings with Saudi deputy minister, Aramco planned
Minister thanks colleagues for 'working hard under difficult conditions'
Officials from South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy have traveled to Saudi Arabia to discuss energy cooperation, even as intensifying clashes between Houthi rebels and Saudi forces have struck civilian infrastructure including airports and thrown the country into turmoil.
Minister Kim Jung-kwan announced the officials' departure in an SNS post Monday, titling it "Thank you to my colleagues who are working hard to secure energy under difficult conditions."
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had raised its travel alert for all of Saudi Arabia to Level 3 — "departure recommended" — on Sunday.
"At the very moment the travel warning was issued, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy officials were already on their way to Riyadh," Kim said, identifying them as Yang Ki-wook, director general of the Industrial Security and Resources Bureau; administrative officer Kim Min-seop; and Na Hyun-bin, an administrative officer who has just begun his career in public service.
According to Kim, the three traveled to Saudi Arabia to attend the International Energy Forum ministerial meeting and the World Petroleum Congress, and to strengthen cooperation aimed at securing a stable energy supply.
Kim said the group endured a series of flight cancellations and was forced to transit through Hong Kong, Qatar and Bahrain before reaching their destination after 26 hours. During the ordeal, Na had to return home at one point due to a lack of available transport.
Saudi Arabia's King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was struck by a missile attack Saturday, killing 13 multinational civilians and injuring more than 300. The following day, an unidentified projectile again hit an airport terminal, killing one person and injuring 11.
Kim noted that representatives from Samsung E&A and SNT Gulf also made the trip. "The government and businesses headed to the scene together for energy cooperation amid an unstable situation and difficult travel conditions," he said.
Kim said the Saudi side expressed special gratitude to the Korean delegation for visiting under such difficult circumstances, and that meetings had been arranged with the Saudi Energy Ministry's deputy minister for oil and gas and with a senior vice president of state oil company Aramco. "We plan to reaffirm their commitment to a stable crude oil supply and discuss cooperation measures to prepare for future supply disruptions," he said.
"I want to express my gratitude to our delegation members and business representatives who are fulfilling their responsibilities and working together amid an unstable situation," Kim added. "Above all else, safety is paramount. I hope everyone makes sound judgments with safety as the top priority for the remainder of the trip and returns home safely."
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