Cheong Wa Dae: 'No U.S. Request to Dispatch Warships to Strait of Hormuz… We Will Make Substantial Contributions'

▲ National Security Office Director Wi Sung-lac holds a preliminary briefing on the U.S. and South American tour at the Chunchu-gwan press room of Cheong Wa Dae on the 22nd.

Cheong Wa Dae stated on the 22nd that, regarding the worsening situation in the Middle East, no new specific requests have been raised by the United States, such as dispatching warships to the Strait of Hormuz.

National Security Office Director Wi Sung-lac said during a briefing at Cheong Wa Dae that day, "There have been no recent new requests from the United States."

Director Wi explained, "There has long been a movement by the U.S. to organize an international coalition for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and there was a request for South Korea to participate, to which we have responded. There has been no new change to that; it remains the same situation as before."

While media reports and other speculations suggested that the U.S. may have asked South Korea to dispatch warships to the Strait of Hormuz, the explanation is that no newly specified demands have been made.

Prior to this, a Cheong Wa Dae official also stated, "Regarding the safety of international maritime traffic routes and freedom of navigation, the government has not recently received any requests from the U.S. side to dispatch specific specific assets."

The official added, "We have continuously discussed relevant cooperation measures with the U.S. side," and explained, "We are reviewing practical contribution measures for freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz by comprehensively considering various factors such as our readiness posture on the Korean Peninsula and domestic legal procedures."

This means that since discussions on contribution measures for freedom of navigation have been ongoing steadily since the outbreak of the war, various options are being kept open and reviewed in the same context.

Director Wi also stated, "South Korea is a country with a massive economic and security stake in the Strait of Hormuz. Our dependence on crude oil is among the highest in the world." He added, "Because the movement for an international coalition is an issue directly tied to our national interest, we have approached discussions with the stance that we will always join and actively make substantial contributions."

He continued, "While there has been no specific request from the U.S. side for warships or anything particular, our stance is to contribute substantively, so we are reviewing multiple options," and noted, "We have an active will."

Regarding the possibility of linking up with the movement led by the UK and France to secure freedom of navigation rather than the U.S., he explained, "There is a possibility that the movements of the U.S. and those of the UK and France could be connected or integrated, so we are closely monitoring the situation."

However, he added, "Our contribution may be related to relevant procedures, the National Assembly, and other factors, and our capabilities also have limits," and noted, "We will make efforts within the scope of our capabilities while observing the overall integration trend."

(Photo: Cheong Wa Dae Press Corps, Yonhap News)

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