The Ministry of National Defense is reviewing an extension of the deployment for the Cheonghae Unit, whose mission is scheduled to end late this year.
During the review, officials are reportedly considering expanding the current operational area, which is focused on the Gulf of Aden, to waters adjacent to Oman that connect to the Strait of Hormuz.
As the operational area widens, the option of deploying an additional maritime patrol aircraft to monitor vessel movements is also reportedly on the discussion table.
Currently, the Cheonghae Unit can be configured with up to one destroyer, one maritime operational helicopter, and three high-speed boats.
The Defense Ministry maintains, however, that reviewing an expansion of the Cheonghae Unit's operational scope is not in response to a U.S. request for troop deployment to the Strait of Hormuz.
The ministry explained that pirate activities in the Gulf of Aden have surged in the aftermath of the Iran war, making it necessary to strengthen response capabilities to protect South Korean merchant vessels.
However, some interpret expanding the Cheonghae Unit's operational range to waters off Oman as effectively serving as a substitute for direct troop deployment.
A Blue House official explained, "Expanding the Cheonghae Unit's mission can effectively be understood as meaning no troop deployment will take place."
Earlier, President Lee Jae-myung also made clear at a press conference last month that while the government is reviewing reinforcing the Cheonghae Unit's activities for the safety of South Korean vessels, there will be no "deployment to war."
[President Lee Jae-myung / Press Conference on State Affairs (September 18): "There will be no troop deployment that engages or intervenes in the war. I can state that clearly. It is also true that we are reviewing and deeply considering reinforcing this (the Cheonghae Unit's mission)."]
Nevertheless, considering domestic concerns, some predict that even if the Cheonghae Unit's operational range is expanded, its actual implementation may come after the end of the Iran war.
Since its initial deployment in 2009, the Cheonghae Unit has extended its deployment period annually with the consent of the National Assembly. The government plans to soon prepare a motion to extend the deployment through interagency consultations and submit it to the National Assembly following approval by the Cabinet.
Reported by Choi Jae-yeong | Video by Jeong Sang-bo, Kim Hyeon-sang | Video Editing by Jeong Seong-hun | Graphics by Cho Soo-in | Produced by SBS Digital News
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