SEOUL: Fifteen South Korean citizens, accompanied by one foreign national family member connected to a Korean national, have safely arrived in Tokyo aboard a Japanese aircraft originating from Israel. This marks the second instance of Japan extending a helping hand to South Korea, reciprocating the goodwill that Seoul displayed just last month during the height of the conflict in Gaza.

The Air Self-Defense Force's aircraft, carrying this group of evacuees, touched down at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo at precisely 6:45 p.m. on Friday evening, as reported by the South Korean Foreign Ministry. The flight had embarked from Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv on Thursday, covering a considerable distance to ensure the safety and repatriation of the South Korean nationals.

This recent collaboration is part of Japan's ongoing commitment to assist South Korea in evacuating its citizens from the turbulent region of Gaza. A similar act of solidarity took place on October 21 when eighteen South Koreans and a foreign family member were transported back home aboard a Japanese aircraft. Japan generously offered approximately 20 seats to accommodate these evacuees, demonstrating their gratitude towards South Korea.

This reciprocal gesture is in direct response to a prior event when a South Korean military aircraft, on October 14, brought back not only 163 South Koreans but also 51 Japanese nationals from Israel. The support extended in both directions reflects the strong diplomatic ties between the two nations, especially in times of crisis.

As of the latest update from the Ministry, there are approximately 420 South Korean citizens still remaining in Israel, highlighting the ongoing need for international cooperation and assistance to ensure their safe return and well-being.

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