Why Takaichi Thanked the South Korean Military: "Japanese Nationals Boarded a ROK Transport Aircraft"

[The Financial News] Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has expressed her gratitude to the Government of South Korea. Her message came after Japanese nationals who had been stranded in the Middle East were evacuated on a transport aircraft operated by the Republic of Korea Armed Forces (ROK Armed Forces).
On the 15th, Prime Minister Takaichi wrote on her X (formerly Twitter) account, "A short while ago, a transport aircraft of the ROK Armed Forces departed Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Saudi Arabia) carrying Japanese nationals and arrived in Seoul," adding, "I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Government of South Korea and to all officials of the South Korean military."
The KC-330 Cygnus multi-role tanker transport aircraft of the Air Force landed at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam City at around 5:59 p.m. that day. On board were 204 South Korean nationals, 5 family members of foreign nationality, and 2 Japanese nationals.
According to diplomatic authorities, the two Japanese nationals boarded the Cygnus in line with consultations between the Saudi Arabian Embassies of the two governments of South Korea and Japan. This measure was taken under the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation for the Protection of Overseas Nationals in Third Countries between the two countries.
The governments of South Korea and Japan signed this Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation for the Protection of Overseas Nationals in Third Countries in September 2024, agreeing to cooperate in protecting their nationals abroad in the event of a crisis in a third country.
Under this framework, the Government of Japan allowed South Koreans to board a charter flight from Riyadh to Narita International Airport on the 11th. At the time, the Government of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) stated that this was made possible "through close communication between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (MOFA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and the diplomatic missions of both countries."
Prime Minister Takaichi also noted, "Not long ago, a total of 16 people, including South Koreans and their foreign family members, boarded a charter flight arranged by the Japanese government. I would like to once again express my deep appreciation to all those involved in both countries."
y27k@fnnews.com Seo Yoon-kyung Reporter