South Korea’s industry ministry said Monday it held a series of bilateral talks with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the European Union and the Philippines to address disruptions in global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East. The discussions focused on stabilizing energy supply chains as uncertainty surrounding transit through the Strait of Hormuzincreases. Seoul requested support from Saudi Arabia and the UAE to secure crude oil via alternative routes, including through Red Sea and Fujairah terminals, while also seeking assurances from Qatar that long-term LNG contracts would be