Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se plans to visit Israel and Palestine next week to discuss ways to help resolve security issues in the Middle Eastern region, a government official said Monday.
   
Yun plans to discuss ways to step up cooperation as well as the security situations at the Korean Peninsula and the North East Asian and Middle Eastern regions during his separate meetings with Israeli and Palestinian foreign ministers, slated for Dec. 21-22, the high-level government official said.   

Yun's visit to the two countries will mark the first trip by a South Korean foreign minister in seven years since former Foreign Minister Song Min-soon traveled to the region in December 2007. 
   
"Foreign Minister Yun plans to travel to Israel and Palestine as he visits the Middle Eastern region to attend the South Korea-Middle East forum," the government source noted.
   
Yun's forthcoming trip also includes the annual forum between South Korea and Middle Eastern countries, slated for Dec. 21, as well as a gathering in Amman, Jordan, of the South Korean mission chiefs stationed in the region, scheduled for Dec. 20, according to the official. 
   
Yun plans to depart for the region on Thursday for the seven-day trip, intended to tighten political cooperation with and explore ways to contribute to the security of the region. 
   
During his meeting in Israel, Yun also plans to discuss ways to intensify economic cooperation while his meeting in Palestine will include discussion on how to help repair the economy there, the official noted. (Yonhap)