UAE Investigation Team Sent, but Government Growing Cautious

[Anchor]

The Ministry of National Defense sent an investigation team to the United Arab Emirates over the weekend regarding the deployment of troops to the Strait of Hormuz. While drawing the line that the visit does not presuppose troop deployment, the government's stance has become more cautious compared to last week.

Reporter Choi Jae-yeong has the details.

[Reporter]

Our military's investigation team was dispatched to the United Arab Emirates over the weekend.

The mission is to assess the local security situation and conditions in the Strait of Hormuz.

The investigation team is reportedly scheduled to return home as early as this week.

The findings from the investigation team will be reported to the National Security Council (NSC).

However, the Ministry of National Defense drew the line, stating, "This investigation does not presuppose actual troop deployment," and adding, "Nothing has been decided regarding deployment."

The ministry also denied media reports claiming that the U.S. Trump administration had requested deployment by November, ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.

Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Relations Sung Ki-hong stated, "We are at a stage of carefully reviewing various options at the working level, and no final policy has been decided yet."

[Sung Ki-hong / Senior Presidential Secretary for Public Relations (YouTube program "Choi Wook's Maebul Show"): "Because this is a very important matter, isn't the president the final decision-maker? Therefore, everything will be discussed in the NSC..."]

While the government was atmosphere-wise reviewing specific troops or assets to send to the Strait of Hormuz as recently as last week, a shift in the mood regarding deployment has been detected entering this week.

A key government official shared the internal atmosphere, saying, "The stance has shifted to a completely cautious review. Even after sending a message that we are reviewing troop deployment, the United States continues to press us, and if the U.S. acts that way, our response cannot help but be agonizing."

The fact that most countries requested by U.S. President Donald Trump to dispatch warships to the Strait of Hormuz since early this year are still keeping their distance from participating in U.S.-led military operations is also deepening the government's dilemma.

Britain and France are keeping their distance from U.S. military operations, pursuing only independent, multinational defensive missions to protect merchant ships and clear mines in the Strait of Hormuz.

Japan also remains cautious about sending warships or troops.

(Video Editing: Jang Hyun-ki, Design: Park Tae-young)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.