Saudi Arabia asks South Korea to protect it from drone attacks

SEOUL, Sept. 18 (YPA) – Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked Seoul on Wednesday to help strengthen the kingdom’s air defense system after attacks on two Saudi oil facilities, the South Korean presidential office said.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s office said the request came during a telephone conversation with Moon, who expressed his condolences to the kingdom over the damage caused by the attacks.

The attacks on two Saudi oil facilities over the weekend cut crude output in the kingdom by 50 percent, pushing oil prices to a four-month high and prompting South Korea to consider drawing down crude reserves.

South Korea is the fifth-largest importer of crude oil in the world and receives about 30% of its needs from Saudi Arabia.

Moon’s office said the president had offered to help with the restoration efforts and that the Saudi crown prince had referred to the restoration of two-thirds of the facilities, saying production would be back on track “100% within 10 days.”

“He (bin Salman) asked for help in establishing an anti-drone defense system to prevent future attacks,” the presidential office added in a statement.

This request came after US air defense systems, which cost Saudi Arabia hundreds of billions, failed to protect the kingdom from missiles and drones of the Yemeni armed forces.

YPA