[Anchor]
The South Korean military has been confirmed to be making concrete preparations to dispatch troops to the Strait of Hormuz. According to our reporting, the deployment force includes P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, an explosive ordnance disposal team, and a logistics support ship.
Our first report today (Sept. 4) is covered exclusively by defense specialist reporter Kim Taehun.
[Reporter]
The South Korean government had previously maintained the stance that it would pursue a deployment to the Strait of Hormuz only after the US-Iran war ends, but it has been learned that the policy was recently changed.
Preparations for deployment are now underway even as the war continues.
A key Ministry of National Defense official told SBS yesterday, "We are making concrete preparations to dispatch naval forces to the Strait of Hormuz."
The official explained, "The deployment forces will include P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, a naval logistics support ship, and an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team."
If dispatched, the Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft will be tasked with monitoring submarines and surface vessels of threatening forces.
The explosive ordnance disposal team consists of personnel from the Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) of the Navy Special Warfare Flotilla, and upon deployment, they are expected to conduct joint operations with foreign navies.
The logistics support ship is projected to be assigned the role of providing rear-support for the patrol aircraft and the explosive ordnance disposal team.
For the patrol aircraft and logistics support ship to reach the Strait of Hormuz, they must stop by foreign base ports, and airports and ports in neighboring countries will be needed to receive logistical support during the Hormuz operation period.
A high-ranking military official told SBS, "I understand that discussions regarding base ports and operational bases are also underway with the relevant countries."
The actual deployment of the patrol aircraft, explosive ordnance disposal team, and logistics support ship requires a decision by the National Security Council (NSC), resolution by the Cabinet meeting, and consent from the National Assembly, with projections suggesting a parliamentary consent motion could be submitted as early as this month.
While the Cheong Wa Dae maintains the position that "nothing has been decided," it is reported that the South Korean government's acceleration of the troop dispatch is influenced by successive pressures from US President Trump.
President Trump has repeatedly claimed that "South Korea is not helping with the Iran war despite receiving help from the US."
(Camera: Kim Hyun-sang | Video Editing: Park Choon-bae)
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