Will Cheonghae Unit Head to Waters off Oman? Expansion of Operations Under Review

[Anchor]

The South Korean government is reviewing a plan to expand the operational area of the Cheonghae Unit, currently operating in the Gulf of Aden, to waters near Oman connected to the Strait of Hormuz, while also considering dispatching an additional maritime patrol aircraft. Amid the administration's stance that there will be no deployment to the war, some interpret this move as effectively serving as an alternative to troop deployment.

Reporter Choi Jae-yeong has the details.

[Reporter]

The Ministry of National Defense is reportedly considering extending the deployment period of the Cheonghae Unit, which expires at the end of this year, and expanding its operational scope—currently focused on the Gulf of Aden—to adjacent waters off Oman connected to the Strait of Hormuz.

As the operational scope widens, a proposal to deploy one additional maritime patrol aircraft to monitor vessel movements has also reportedly been placed on the discussion table.

The Defense Ministry maintains, however, that reviewing the expansion of the Cheonghae Unit's operational scope is not in response to a request from the United States for deployment to Hormuz.

The ministry explained that with piracy activities surging in the Gulf of Aden region in the aftermath of the war involving Iran, it is a critical time to strengthen response capabilities to protect South Korean merchant vessels.

Yet, some interpret expanding the Cheonghae Unit's operational area to waters off Oman instead of sending a separate deployment as effectively serving to "substitute" for troop deployment.

An official from Cheongwadae explained, "The expansion of the Cheonghae Unit's mission can effectively be seen as meaning that we will not send troops."

Earlier, President Lee Jae-myung stated during a press conference last month that there would be no "war deployment," while also mentioning the strengthening of the Cheonghae Unit's activities.

[President Lee Jae-myung (Press Conference for the Public, September 18): "There will be no troop deployment that involves or intervenes in the war. I can state that unequivocally. It is also true, however, that we are reviewing and deeply considering strengthening this (the mission of the Cheonghae Unit)."]

In light of domestic concerns, some project that even if the Cheonghae Unit's operational scope is expanded, the actual implementation may only take place after the war involving Iran ends.

Since its first deployment in 2009, the Cheonghae Unit has extended its mission period each year with the consent of the National Assembly.

Video by Jeong Sang-bo and Kim Hyeon-sang | Video Editing by Jeong Seong-hun | Graphics by Cho Su-in
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.