[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Successful Escape from Sudan... The 'Three Elements' Were Perfect

The government successfully evacuated all 28 Korean nationals residing in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan in North Africa, where the civil war has intensified, to Port Sudan, an eastern Red Sea port city, enabling their escape from Sudan. They are scheduled to arrive at Seoul Airport at 4 p.m. on the 25th.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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The success of the operation named ‘Promise’ hinged on three decisive factors: ‘determination,’ ‘cooperation,’ and ‘military power.’ The clashes between the Sudanese government forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) rebel group, which began in Khartoum on the 15th, have spread throughout Sudan, causing numerous casualties and ongoing dangerous conditions. On the 21st, our government decided to dispatch military transport aircraft to ensure the safety of the Korean nationals. The evacuation operation mobilized the Army Special Warfare Command’s 707 Counterterrorism Special Mission Unit, Air Force Combat Control Team (CCT), and the Cheonghae Unit’s Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin-class destroyer (DDH-II, 4,400 tons), deploying elite units from the army, navy, and air force.

The main challenge was ensuring safety during the over 12-hour land journey. The Korean Embassy in Khartoum, where the nationals had taken refuge, and Port Sudan are approximately 850 km apart. There was a high risk of casualties from armed conflict or being stopped at checkpoints during the long overland trip, making it difficult to guarantee arrival at the destination. If the 707 Counterterrorism Special Mission Unit became involved in the fighting, the situation could have worsened. There were many tense moments, including a delay of 6 to 7 hours caused by a bus breaking down while traveling in multiple buses. It is known that there were many urgent moments during the land journey, such as taking breaks or changing routes to prepare for any emergencies.

The assistance of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government played a significant role in resolving this issue. The UAE side expressed willingness to support the overland movement of our nationals, which our government accepted. They mediated negotiations requesting both the Sudanese government forces and rebel groups to guarantee the safety of third-country nationals during the evacuation. The two countries have close relations, referring to each other as ‘brother countries’ following President Yoon Suk-yeol’s state visit to the UAE in January.

The main assets in the Promise operation were the C-130J ‘Super Hercules’ transport aircraft and the Air Force’s multipurpose aerial refueling aircraft KC-330 Cygnus, known as the ‘sky gas station.’ The C-130J and KC-330 also carried out the ‘Miracle Operation’ in August 2021, rescuing over 390 Afghan special contributors and their families when Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, fell to the Taliban.

The C-130J transport aircraft is equipped with missile warning systems and missile countermeasure systems such as chaff and flare dispensers, allowing it to be deployed in conflict zones with defensive capabilities. However, its maximum range is about 5,250 km, which is relatively short. For distances beyond Southeast Asia, mid-air refueling is necessary. This is why the KC-330 was deployed in the Promise operation. The KC-330 is used by 30 countries, including the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.

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