Seoul: South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun announced on Tuesday that the government has sent envoys to Algeria and Libya, and is planning to send additional envoys, in a bid to secure alternative supply routes in response to the ongoing Middle East crisis.

According to Yonhap News Agency, this decision follows a Cabinet meeting where President Lee Jae Myung urged the government to find supply chain alternatives due to the United States' conflict with Iran, which has led to the closure of the critical Strait of Hormuz and caused significant disruptions in maritime traffic in the region.

Director-general-level officials have already been dispatched to Algeria and Libya, and plans are underway to send a special envoy of the foreign minister to the Republic of the Congo. Cho emphasized the ministry's commitment to deploy presidential envoys after consultations with relevant ministries, the Korea Petroleum Association, and other stakeholders to facilitate the government's efforts in securing alternative sources of supply.

Additionally, presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik has been sent to the Middle East as a special envoy. Meanwhile, Chung Byung-ha, the special envoy to Iran, is actively engaging with senior Iranian officials in Tehran to address regional developments, ensure the safety of South Korean nationals, vessels, and crew, and manage the passage of ships.