Seoul has given Washington credit for the successful transport of hundreds of Afghans to South Korea from the Taliban-run country. 

In a statement, the Defense Ministry said the “miraculous” operation by the South Korean government and the military was only possible because of the wholehearted assistance by its ally, the U.S.

According to the ministry, U.S. military aircraft helped swiftly move three employees of the South Korean Embassy to Afghanistan and a South Korean military attaché in the United Arab Emirates to Kabul for the mission. 

The U.S. Central Command was also cooperative in providing prior permissions required for South Korean transport aircraft to land in and depart from Kabul's Hamid Karzai International Airport. 

The ministry added the U.S. military engaged in negotiations with the Taliban to ensure the safe arrival of the Afghan evacuees at the airport and also helped identify those trying to board the South Korean planes from the tens of thousands of people gathered at the airport to flee the country. 

It also acknowledged cooperation from other U.S. allies and partner countries, including the U.K., Canada, Pakistan, India, Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.