South Korea’s Yoon Departs for Saudi Arabia and Qatar

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee wave before departing from Seoul on the presidential plane Code One for state visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Seoul, South Korea, 21 October 2023. (EPA/Yonhap)
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee wave before departing from Seoul on the presidential plane Code One for state visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Seoul, South Korea, 21 October 2023. (EPA/Yonhap)
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South Korea’s Yoon Departs for Saudi Arabia and Qatar

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee wave before departing from Seoul on the presidential plane Code One for state visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Seoul, South Korea, 21 October 2023. (EPA/Yonhap)
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee wave before departing from Seoul on the presidential plane Code One for state visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Seoul, South Korea, 21 October 2023. (EPA/Yonhap)

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol left for Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Saturday to discuss business cooperation as well as to discuss security conditions amid the crisis in the Middle East, his office said.

Yoon, in what would be the first state visit by a South Korean leader, will hold talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday, and will travel to Qatar on Oct. 24-25 for a summit and to attend a business forum.

The state visit takes place roughly a year after Crown Prince Mohammed visited South Korea and discussed cooperation in the areas of energy, defense and infrastructure construction, signing investment pacts worth $30 billion with Korean firms.

Business leaders accompanying President Yoon include Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Jay Y. Lee, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair E.S. Chung and the heads of Hanwha, GS, and HD Hyundai conglomerates, according to Yoon's office.



Saudi Defense Minister Decorates Former CENTCOM Commander with King Abdulaziz Medal 

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and former Commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) retired General Michael Kurilla during the ceremony in Riyadh on Thursday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and former Commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) retired General Michael Kurilla during the ceremony in Riyadh on Thursday. (SPA)
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Saudi Defense Minister Decorates Former CENTCOM Commander with King Abdulaziz Medal 

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and former Commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) retired General Michael Kurilla during the ceremony in Riyadh on Thursday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and former Commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) retired General Michael Kurilla during the ceremony in Riyadh on Thursday. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz bestowed on Thursday the King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellent Class upon former Commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) retired General Michael Kurilla.

The medal was awarded at the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The ceremony took place at the defense minister's office in Riyadh.


Saudi Crown Prince Performs Prayers at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah 

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and other officials perform prayers at the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah on Friday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and other officials perform prayers at the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah on Friday. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince Performs Prayers at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah 

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and other officials perform prayers at the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah on Friday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and other officials perform prayers at the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah on Friday. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, visited the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah on Friday to perform prayers.

He received upon his arrival by President of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfig Al-Rabiah, and a number of the mosque's imams and preachers.

Crown Prince Mohammed was accompanied by Governor of the Madinah Region Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Minister of State and Cabinet Member Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of the Riyadh Region Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of the Madinah Region Prince Saud bin Nahar bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, Prince Saud bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Culture Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan, and several other officials.

Earlier, in Riyadh, Crown Prince Mohammed received at the Al-Yamamah Palace Saudi Arabia's grand mufti, several princes, scholars, ministers, and a number of citizens who came to extend their congratulations on the occasion of Ramadan. 

The Crown Prince prayed to Allah Almighty to accept everyone's fasting and righteous deeds, and to bless the Kingdom with continued security, stability, and prosperity under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. 


Mohammed bin Salman, Graham Discuss Relations between Saudi Arabia, US 

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, meets with US Senator Lindsey Graham in Riyadh on Thursday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, meets with US Senator Lindsey Graham in Riyadh on Thursday. (SPA)
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Mohammed bin Salman, Graham Discuss Relations between Saudi Arabia, US 

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, meets with US Senator Lindsey Graham in Riyadh on Thursday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, meets with US Senator Lindsey Graham in Riyadh on Thursday. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, held talks in Riyadh on Thursday with US Senator Lindsey Graham.

Talks focused on the ties of friendship between Saudi Arabia and the United States. They discussed regional and international developments and several issues of common interest.

The meeting was attended by Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet, and National Security Advisor Dr. Musaed bin Al-Aiban.