Saudi Arabia, South Korea Seek to Boost Relations, Investments

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman holds talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman holds talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia, South Korea Seek to Boost Relations, Investments

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman holds talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman holds talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, held talks on Tuesday with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on bilateral relations between their countries and ways to bolster them in all fields.

The South Korean leader had arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday on an official visit.

Talks with the Crown Prince also tackled regional and international developments.

Saudi Ambassador to Seoul, Sami Alsadhan noted that Crown Prince Mohammed had made an official visit to South Korea in 2019.

His trip helped strengthen relations with Seoul and expanded them to cover areas such a health, information technology, culture and education, he told the Saudi Press Agency.

South Korea is a strategic partner to Saudi Arabia as shown in the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and the Saudi-Korean Vision 2030 cooperation agreement that was signed in October 2017, he added.

Meanwhile, a senior Korean source said Seoul and Riyadh enjoy military cooperation that may later be expanded to include rockets and military equipment.

Fields that may provide cooperation opportunities include hydrogen fuel, renewable energy, digitization, technology, advanced industries, education and health.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the bilateral talks between Saudi Arabia and South Korea covered several agreements and memorandums of understanding that underscore the strategic natures of their relations.

Moon's visit to Riyadh and meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed will pave the way for more opportunities and shape the future ties between their countries.

Major countries are seeking to relocate their regional headquarters to Saudi Arabia, he remarked, a reference to South Korea's LG Corp's plan to establish its regional headquarter Riyadh.



Saudi Arabia Condemns Ongoing Israeli Violations

Jerusalem: Israeli security officers patrol in front of the Dome of the Rock mosque at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem. Photo: Ilia Yefimovich/dpa
Jerusalem: Israeli security officers patrol in front of the Dome of the Rock mosque at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem. Photo: Ilia Yefimovich/dpa
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Saudi Arabia Condemns Ongoing Israeli Violations

Jerusalem: Israeli security officers patrol in front of the Dome of the Rock mosque at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem. Photo: Ilia Yefimovich/dpa
Jerusalem: Israeli security officers patrol in front of the Dome of the Rock mosque at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem. Photo: Ilia Yefimovich/dpa

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned on Thursday Israel's ongoing violations, including the Israeli Minister of National Security's storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, and the incursion of Israeli forces into southern Syria.

“The Kingdom affirms that these systematic practices in Al-Aqsa Mosque constitute a blatant violation and provocation of the feelings of Muslims around the world and that the continuation of military operations in Syria is an attempt to sabotage Syria's chances of restoring its security and stability,” the ministry said in a statement.

The Makkah-based Muslim World League (MWL) also strongly condemned Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.

MWL Secretary-General Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Al-Issa denounced the act as a provocative violation of Islamic holy sites and warned against further escalation by Israeli forces, which could inflame Muslim sentiment globally. He emphasized that such actions are a breach of international law and humanitarian norms.