Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's scheduled visit to South Korea this month has been postponed, according to the Korean presidential office on Thursday.

Yoon's office confirmed to The Korea Herald that due to an “unexpected situation” in the region, the two nations have “mutually agreed” to postpone the UAE president's visit to Korea.

The rising conflict between the Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas and the Israeli military is believed to be the underlying reason, though it remains unspecified. The UAE reported the change in plans for its visit to Korea a day earlier, according to local news reports.

In January, Yoon made a state visit to the UAE and secured investment commitments of $30 billion after a summit with Mohammed bin Zayed. Detailed discussions between the leaders were anticipated to confirm the UAE's major investment projects during the visit.

Earlier this month, official talks on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between Korea and the UAE commenced. The two nations aim to bridge differences in eight areas, including products, services, country of origin and cooperation. The CEPA, akin to a free trade agreement, encompasses not just the movement of goods and personnel between the two countries, but also extensive exchange and collaboration.

• ·First lady explains S. Korea's dog meat ban plan to Queen Camilla
• ·“이게 KF
• ·BTS' Jungkook headed to Paris as MTV EMA nominee, performer
• ·Gimbap and hanja cramming: Life of Korean Studies students in Paris
• ·금태섭 “文 전 대통령, 조국 출마 적절한지 의견 분명히 해야”
• ·“이게 KF
• ·S. Korean industries to see modest recovery in 2024: think tank
• ·New fad uncovers old school transcripts for dose of nostalgia
• ·홍준표, 하태경 종로 출마 선언에…"주사파 출신이 갈 곳 아니다"
• ·[Today’s K
• ·Biden says Hamas must be eliminated, US officials warn war could escalate
• ·Is Blackpink leaving YG?
• ·尹, 과학기술자문회의와 오찬 “예타 간소화·예산집행 유연화 필요”
• ·New government initiative offers W3b reward to combat digital piracy
• ·Response to Yasukuni visits underway: official
• ·Opposition leader away in court with critics calling for his departure from party