A military transport plane deployed to transport local Koreans in Sudan, where an armed conflict occurred, has arrived at the US military base in Djibouti.
On the 22nd, the Ministry of National Defense announced that a military transport plane (C-130J) to support the safe evacuation of Korean residents had safely arrived at the US military base in Djibouti around 5:20 pm on the same day. It is reported that the military transport plane took off at around 4:53 pm the previous day and flew for about 24 hours until arrival.
The Ministry of National Defense announced the day before, “In relation to the armed conflict in Sudan, the Korean government has decided to deploy military transport aircraft (C-130J) and related troops for the safe evacuation of Korean nationals residing in Sudan.”
“Currently, fighting continues in Sudan, and the airport in Khartoum, the capital where our citizens live, is closed.” We plan to support,” he said.
The resources and troops deployed to Sudan are about 50 people, including one C-130J transport plane, pilots, mechanics, bodyguards, and medical personnel.
The C-130 transport aircraft used in this Sudan is a transport aircraft manufactured by Lockheed Martin in the United States, and was deployed in 1957. It has been in active service since World War II and is considered the best tactical transport aircraft in the US Air Force.
The C-130J is the latest improved type and operates at a maximum speed of about 670 km/h, with a range of 3300 km. It can load up to 33,000 kg and transport about 130 people. Earlier, in 2021, two C-130 transport planes and a KC-330 were also used in the “Operation Miracle” to transfer Afghan helpers to Korea. The death toll is said to have exceeded 300.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said the cumulative death toll had reached 330 and injured 3,200 since the conflict began on the 15th.
However, as the paramilitary organization RSF announced that it could partially open the airport for the evacuation of its citizens from other countries, a situation has been prepared for the safe evacuation of local residents.
Previously, President Yoon Seok-yeol ordered the dispatch of the Cheonghae Unit from Salalah Port in Oman to the waters near Sudan in connection with the armed conflict in Sudan.
Spokesman Lee Do-woon reported in a written briefing that President Yoon held a situation assessment meeting with related agencies supervised by the second deputy director of the National Security Office to secure the safety of Korean citizens related to the Sudan crisis at 10:00 am on the same day.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.