On the 18th, Kang Hoon-sik, the Chief of Staff to the President of South Korea, announced during a briefing at the Blue House that the country would be urgently importing 18 million barrels of crude oil from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through various supply sources. He emphasized the urgency of this move, citing that 70% of South Korea's crude oil imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz, which is currently perceived as effectively blocked. The situation necessitates immediate alternatives for securing oil supplies.

Kang further detailed that agreements have been made with UAE officials, including President Mohammed and Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, on being ready to purchase oil emergency supplies as situations evolve in the Middle East. He stated, in addition to the 18 million barrels, a vessel carrying an additional 6 million barrels is en route to South Korea, bringing the total to 24 million barrels that the country aims to secure.

Moreover, Kang revealed that both nations have agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) focused on developing alternative supply routes for crude oil. This agreement fosters deeper cooperation in oil supply chain management between South Korea and the UAE, which is expected to be formalized soon.