President Lee orders protection of Koreans in Venezuela, evacuation plan after U.S. military strike
Published: 03 Jan. 2026, 19:59
Updated: 03 Jan. 2026, 20:10
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- SARAH KIM
- [email protected]
![A fire is seen at Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela's largest military complex, after a series of explosions in Caracas on Jan. 3. Loud explosions, accompanied by sounds resembling aircraft flyovers, were heard in Caracas earlier. [AFP/YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/01/03/5a179949-45f2-4bc5-a31b-d602e135ee58.jpg)
A fire is seen at Fuerte Tiuna, Venezuela's largest military complex, after a series of explosions in Caracas on Jan. 3. Loud explosions, accompanied by sounds resembling aircraft flyovers, were heard in Caracas earlier. [AFP/YONHAP]
Lee "instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant authorities to thoroughly protect Korean nationals and develop a detailed evacuation plan in case the situation worsens," the Blue House said in a statement, and to "make thorough preparations to ensure swift execution of these plans if necessary."
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed Saturday that U.S. forces had carried out "a large scale strike" against Venezuela, and were flying President Nicolás Maduro and his wife out of the country.
![President Lee Jae Myung speaks at the Blue House in central Seoul on Jan. 2. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2026/01/03/78361699-8bbc-4762-81c7-93a9fdb8c23b.jpg)
President Lee Jae Myung speaks at the Blue House in central Seoul on Jan. 2. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]
The Foreign Ministry activated a task force overseeing protection of overseas Koreans and is working with local embassies to ensure the safety of Korean nationals.
The ministry is also expected to convene an emergency meeting later Saturday to assess the situation and discuss response measures, the Blue House said.
Earlier, explosions were reported in Venezuela's capital of Caracas. The strike comes as the United States has accused Maduro of leading drug trafficking operations and election rigging.
Venezuelan authorities said that the government is compiling information about casualties and claimed that the strikes hit civilian areas.
BY SARAH KIM [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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