South Korea considers deploying military assets to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz - Sarmad

The South Korean Presidential Office said on Friday that Seoul is considering several options to contribute to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, including military measures, while emphasizing that no decision has yet been made regarding the deployment of military assets in the region.

This came following local media reports that the government is preparing to deploy military assets in the Strait of Hormuz before the end of the year, and may seek parliamentary approval during September.

A source in the Presidential Office clarified that the options under consideration include deploying a maritime patrol aircraft, a logistics support ship, and a mine detection and clearance unit, noting that Seoul is discussing the scale and nature of its potential contribution with countries including the United States, Britain, and France.

He added that any decision would take into account domestic legal procedures, military readiness on the Korean Peninsula, and the need for approval by the National Assembly, affirming that rumors claiming South Korea would not contribute anything related to the Strait of Hormuz are incorrect.

The official pointed out that South Korean President Lee Jae-myung may discuss options related to the strait during his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron next week.