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| People attend a prayer ceremony in front of the U.N. building in Bangkok, Thursday, for those who were killed during pro-democracy protests in Myanmar. Reuters-Yonhap |
By Yi Whan-woo
The government will charter a special flight, Saturday, to bring home Korean citizens from Myanmar, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday.
This will be the first chartered flight connecting the two countries as a brutal crackdown intensifies on protests against the military coup there. The ministry did not specify the airline, time or other details.
"The Korean Embassy in Myanmar has notified us of plans to operate a charter flight departing from Yangon, March 6, for Incheon," the ministry said. "The embassy is cooperating with the Korean community to figure out the estimated number of our nationals who wish to return, while also consulting with relevant Myanmar agencies over the matter."
It added the government "will do its best to protect our citizens and help them return safely."
Flag carrier Korean Air had operated emergency flights between the two countries three times a week for COVID-19 relief purposes. However, the carrier temporarily suspended the flights from Feb. 9.
Myanmar Airways International (MAI) runs relief flights once or twice a week.
At least 38 people were killed in Myanmar, Wednesday, after the military and police opened fire on peaceful protesters.
The death toll, according to the United Nations, makes Wednesday the deadliest since the coup broke out Feb. 1.
No Korean casualties have been reported.
