1. On the passing of His Highness Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait, the government of the Republic of Korea will send a delegation led by Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Hyun-mee to Kuwait on October 4-6.

o The delegation will consist of six persons, including working-level officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

2. At 16:48, September 29 (local time), the Kuwaiti Court announced through a state-run news agency that Amir Sheikh Sabah passed away. Since his accession to the throne in 2006, the late Amir had been an extraordinary ruler for its people, leading the country’s political development and continued economic growth. He had been respected by the world as a “Global Humanitarian Leader” who led international assistance in response to humanitarian crises around the world.

o In addition, the late Amir was an active mediator in promoting harmony and peace among countries in the region, as shown in his role after the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the Kingdom of Bahrain severed diplomatic ties with the State of Qatar (2017), while maintaining comprehensive friendly and cooperative relations with neighboring Middle Eastern countries based on more than 40 years of experience as the longest-serving foreign minister.

3. President Moon Jae-in highly valued Kuwait’s political stability and economic prosperity under the leadership of the late Amir Sheikh Sabah, the ROK-Kuwait friendly and cooperative relations, and the late Amir Sheikh Sabah’s humanitarian leadership, and sent a message expressing his heartfelt condolences on October 1.

o Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang, Kyung-wha will visit the Embassy of Kuwait in the ROK on October 5 to offer condolences.

4. Meanwhile, after the passing of Amir Sheikh Sabah, Crown Prince H. H. Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Jaber Al-Sabah (the late Amir Sheikh Sabah’s half-brother) was sworn in as the new Amir after taking oath at the National Assembly on September 30 in accordance with the Kuwaiti constitution.

o The ROK’s government delegation will deliver President Moon Jae-in’s letter extending congratulations on Sheikh Nawaf’s being sworn in as the new Amir.