President Yoon Suk Yeol has ordered the deployment of the Korean Navy's Cheonghae Unit to waters near Sudan.

Presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon said on Saturday that the President gave the order at a National Security office meeting held earlier that morning, after conferring on ways to secure the safety of Korean nationals in conflict-ridden Sudan. 

The anti-piracy unit will be dispatched from Oman's Port of Salalah.

A total of 26 Korean nationals, including embassy officials, are believed to be in Sudan.