Wi Sung-lac, head of the Office of National Security, said on the 10th that despite the United States and Iran agreeing to a "two-week cease-fire," global supply chain instability will continue for the time being, and that Korea will keep working to find alternative sources for crude oil and naphtha. He said the fact that the United States and Iran are set to hold end-of-war talks on the 11th (Korea time) can be seen as entering an "important turning point," but with wide gaps between the two sides, including Israel's strikes in Lebanon, it is uncertain whether this will immediately lead to an end to the war.
At a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae that day, the Deputy Minister said, "The international community is generally expressing support for the (two-week cease-fire agreement)," but added, "Israel's operations in Lebanon are continuing, and Israel maintains that these operations are separate from the cease-fire," and "Iran is calling this a violation of the cease-fire agreement, keeping regional tensions high, and some attacks on Gulf countries are also continuing."
The face-to-face talks will be held in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. On the U.S. side, Vice President J.D. Vance, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner will join the delegation. According to foreign media including the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the Iranian delegation is led by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Cheong Wa Dae, mindful of the wide gap between the two sides, says it will continue preparing for supply chain uncertainties. The Deputy Minister said, "Despite the cease-fire agreement, supply chain uncertainties will persist for the time being. Passage through the strait is still not that smooth," adding, "We will continue efforts to find alternative sources for crude oil and naphtha. We are making such efforts through our overseas missions."
In particular, he said, "There are views that the talks could be delayed because the situation in Lebanon is unstable and the two sides are trading accusations," adding, "That is because the United States and Iran are publicly holding to core demands that are hard for the other to accept." He went on, "A key variable will be how far these demands can be adjusted and reconciled going forward."