Cho Hyun: "UAE commercial flight carrying Korean nationals to depart today"...Military aircraft also under review

[Financial News] A chartered flight from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to evacuate Korean nationals currently staying in the Middle East is expected to begin operations from the 6th.
Appearing before the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee at the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea that day, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said, "We are preparing chartered flights to evacuate 3,000 Korean nationals staying in the UAE," adding, "In addition to Korean chartered flights, we are also making arrangements so that UAE commercial aircraft can depart immediately, and air services are expected to begin today." Cho also explained, "A Korean Air chartered flight has received approval for takeoff and landing at airports in the UAE."
Cho said he held a phone call the previous day with Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, and requested the UAE government's special attention and support for the takeoff and landing of Korean chartered flights. He added, "We are also drawing up plans to deploy Korean military aircraft to the Middle East."
Cho noted, "There appear to be more than about 20,000 people in the Middle East, including long-term residents and short-term travelers," and continued, "We are identifying how many among the roughly 20,000 wish to return home. The number is large enough to warrant operating chartered flights." He said the government plans to adjust its safety measures while taking into account both the possibility of a prolonged conflict and further escalation.
rainman@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-soo Reporter