[Anchor]

The government's stance on troop deployment to the Strait of Hormuz appears to have shifted somewhat this week. After specifically weighing the military assets and troop size that could be dispatched, the government has tilted back toward a completely cautious review.

Reporter Choi Jae-yeong has the details.

[Reporter]

Last weekend, a South Korean military inspection team was dispatched to the United Arab Emirates.

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

The inspection team is reportedly set to return as early as this week.

The findings from the inspection team are scheduled to be reported to the National Security Council (NSC).

However, the Ministry of National Defense drew a line, stating, "This inspection is not based on the premise of an actual deployment," and adding, "Nothing has been decided regarding deployment."

The Ministry of Defense also denied reports by some media outlets that the U.S. Trump administration asked the South Korean government to deploy troops by November, ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.

Sung Ki-hong, Senior Secretary to the President for Public Relations and Communication, also stated, "We are at the stage of cautiously reviewing various practical options, and no final policy has been set yet."

[Sung Ki-hong / Senior Secretary to the President for Public Relations and Communication (YouTube 'Choi Wook's Maebul Show') : Because this is a very important matter, isn't the President the ultimate decision-maker? Therefore, everything must be discussed within the NSC...]

As of last week, the government atmosphere was leaning toward specifically reviewing South Korean military troops or assets to send to the Strait of Hormuz, but a shift in the deployment-related currents has been detected entering this week.

A key government official conveyed the internal atmosphere, saying, "The stance has shifted completely to a cautious review," and adding, "Even though we sent a message that we are reviewing deployment, the United States has not stopped its pressure. With the U.S. acting like this, our response inevitably has to be complicated."

Most countries that have been asked by U.S. President 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, which 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 commercial vessels 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)