Seoul expresses concern over Middle East situation, hopes for swift de-escalation

President Lee Jae-myung held an emergency meeting Friday afternoon, emphasising that the safety and lives of South Koreans are "the most important" issue amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The leader called on officials to implement measures to ensure the safety and well-being of Korean nationals in the region,. and ordered officials to monitor oil, currency, and stock markets, to prepare for volatility.

The Foreign Ministry has also expressed deep concern over the escalating situation in the Middle East, and is communicating with diplomatic missions to ensure the safety of Korean nationals.

The ministry has said, as of Friday, there have been no South Korean casualties.