President Lee has ordered government ministers to “keep a close eye on North Korean trends and maintain close cooperation with neighboring countries” following the surprise removal of V. Mar Lee Young Ho on Sunday.

Lee was speaking during an emergency meeting of diplomatic and national security officials at the Blue House this morning.

Today’s emergency meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Kim Sung Hwan, Minister of National Defense Kim Kwan Jin, Minister of Unification Ryu Woo Ik, National Intelligence Service chief Won Se Hun, and two of President Lee’s top staffers, Ha Keum Yul and Cheon Young Woo.