Operational Range Expanded, 'Submarine Killer' Deployed

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The government has decided to submit a revised deployment extension motion to the National Assembly to expand the operational area and military strength of the Cheonghae Unit deployed to the Gulf of Aden. The operational area will nearly double, and maritime patrol aircraft and an explosive ordnance disposal team will also be additionally dispatched.

Reporter Kim Minjun reports.

[Reporter]

Since 2009, the Cheonghae Unit has been deployed to the waters of the Gulf of Aden off Somalia to carry out anti-piracy operations.

In 2011, it made a name for itself with "Operation Dawn," rescuing all 21 crew members held by pirates, including Captain Seok Hae-gyun.

The deployment has been extended annually with the consent of the National Assembly, and a revised motion to expand the operational area and add military capabilities has now passed the Vice-Ministerial Meeting.

The Cheonghae Unit has thus far operated primarily in the Gulf of Aden, using the Port of Djibouti to the west and the Port of Salalah in Oman to the east as operational hubs.

This revised motion extends the operational range to the southern tip of the Port of Duqm in southern Oman, nearly doubling the mission area compared to the previous 1,100 kilometers.

The government cited a gap in international maritime capabilities resulting from clashes between Saudi Arabia and the pro-Iranian Houthi rebels, as well as a sharp increase in pirate activity in the Gulf of Aden, as reasons for the revision.

Neither the Gulf of Oman nor the Strait of Hormuz, located more than 600 kilometers in a straight line from the Port of Duqm, is included in this expanded mission area.

Equipment and other military assets will also be reinforced.

One P-8A Poseidon, a state-of-the-art maritime patrol aircraft known as a "submarine killer," will be deployed for reconnaissance missions.

Unmanned underwater vehicles, unmanned surface vessels, and unmanned exploration devices designed to detect and clear naval mines have also been added along with an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team; this is interpreted as a move with the Strait of Hormuz in mind, given that the operational area is primarily a zone for pirate activity where finding mines is rare.

The total number of personnel will increase from the current 320 to 395, and the Chairman of the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff will hold command authority.

Although a mission to "support the restoration of freedom of navigation on international sea lines of communication" was added to the revised motion, a new deployment consent motion would still be required to deploy the Cheonghae Unit to mine clearance operations or other missions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Video by Jeong Sung-hoon | Graphics by Hwang Se-yeon
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.