Cheong Wa Dae: No U.S. Request for Specific Asset Deployment to Strait of Hormuz

▲ Cheong Wa Dae

Regarding media reports that the United States requested South Korea to dispatch a warship to the Strait of Hormuz, Cheong Wa Dae stated, "The government has not recently received a request from the U.S. side to dispatch specific, designated assets in connection with the safety of international maritime trade routes and freedom of navigation."

However, it explained, "We have continuously discussed relevant cooperation measures with the U.S. side," adding, "We are reviewing practical ways to contribute to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz by comprehensively considering various factors, including our defense posture on the Korean Peninsula and domestic legal procedures."

It also noted, "It is difficult to publicly disclose specific details of communication between South Korea and the U.S. related to military and security matters."

This is interpreted to mean that while no new specific request for a "warship dispatch" has been freshly raised by the U.S. regarding the recent aggravation of the situation in the Middle East, various options are being kept open and reviewed in that context, as discussions on ways to contribute to freedom of navigation have been steadily ongoing since the outbreak of the conflict.

(Photo: Yonhap News)

※