SEOUL, January 4 (AJP) - The government is assessing any fallout after the U.S. captured Venezuela's authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro in a lightning military operation the previous day, while monitoring further developments.
In a statement on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged, "All relevant parties should exercise maximum restraint to ease tensions in the region" and expressed hope that democracy will be restored as soon as possible through dialogue.
The ministry added that it is taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of South Korean nationals in Venezuela.
According to the ministry, about 70 South Koreans are currently in Venezuela, most of them in Caracas, with no injuries reported as of Saturday.
U.S. military forces raided Maduro's presidential palace in Caracas, captured him along with his wife and son, and airlifted them by helicopter to the USS Iwo Jima amphibious assault ship.
At a press conference at his private residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, U.S. President Donald Trump said, "We're going to run [Venezuela] until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition" to new leadership.
But he added, "We can't take a chance that someone else takes over Venezuela that doesn't have the interests of the Venezuelan people in mind." He also warned the U.S. is ready to launch a "second and much larger attack" if needed.
Maduro, who has been accused of involvement in illegal cocaine and narcotics trafficking, arrived in New York earlier in the day and is expected to face drug-related charges.
In a statement on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged, "All relevant parties should exercise maximum restraint to ease tensions in the region" and expressed hope that democracy will be restored as soon as possible through dialogue.
The ministry added that it is taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of South Korean nationals in Venezuela.
According to the ministry, about 70 South Koreans are currently in Venezuela, most of them in Caracas, with no injuries reported as of Saturday.
U.S. military forces raided Maduro's presidential palace in Caracas, captured him along with his wife and son, and airlifted them by helicopter to the USS Iwo Jima amphibious assault ship.
At a press conference at his private residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, U.S. President Donald Trump said, "We're going to run [Venezuela] until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition" to new leadership.
But he added, "We can't take a chance that someone else takes over Venezuela that doesn't have the interests of the Venezuelan people in mind." He also warned the U.S. is ready to launch a "second and much larger attack" if needed.
Maduro, who has been accused of involvement in illegal cocaine and narcotics trafficking, arrived in New York earlier in the day and is expected to face drug-related charges.
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