In a press briefing in Seoul on Monday, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said, "We are working closely with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and overseas missions to monitor conditions in the strait and ensure the safety of South Korean ships and crews."
He added that South Korea is also cooperating with other countries to restore free and safe passage for all vessels as soon as possible.
Revealing that the ministry is arranging a call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi soon, Cho said the ministry has set up a dedicated task force to help South Korean companies take part in reconstruction efforts in the Middle East once the U.S. resolves its conflict with Iran.
Seoul plans to join international efforts including those led by the U.S., to support lasting peace and stability in the region.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha will visit Seoul for talks next week. One of the key topics during his visit on June 30 is expected to be North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) in Ukraine, who have sought asylum in South Korea after being captured early last year, rather than being sent back to North Korea, where they could face punishment or execution.
A senior Foreign Ministry official here said the government is working to bring them as soon as possible. "There could be progress in the upcoming talks, as an agreement on basic principles has been almost reached with the Ukrainian side," the official said.
Separately, when asked about concerns that Chinese President Xi Jinping may be tacitly accepting North Korea's ambition to be recognized as a nuclear state by not mentioning denuclearization during his recent visit to Pyongyang, the official said, "He is avoiding mentioning it, but that is not the same as condoning it."
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