[Anchor]

President Lee Jae-myung stated firmly during a press conference that there will be "no troop deployment for war" to the Strait of Hormuz. While noting that negotiations over investment in the United States are nearly finalized, he revealed that discussions are continuing because there are parts he finds difficult to agree with.

Kim Hye-young reports.

[Reporter]

At the press conference, President Lee clearly stated, "There is no troop deployment for war," emphasizing that the principle of non-involvement in war remains unchanged regarding the issue of troop deployment to the Strait of Hormuz.

[President Lee Jae-myung: "There will be no deployment that gets involved or intervenes in war. I can state that unequivocally."]

However, he emphasized that South Korea must conduct minimum activities, just like other nations, to protect its commercial vessels, crude oil shipping routes, and the safety of its citizens.

[President Lee Jae-myung: "The Cheonghae Unit has already been dispatched, and our military is responding to threats against public safety. It is also true that we are reviewing and contemplating measures to strengthen this."]

Accordingly, observers project that even if military assets are dispatched, the move will likely aim at making a realistic contribution with minimal personnel outside the Strait of Hormuz.

President Lee has consistently stressed the criterion of "commercial rationality" regarding negotiations over U.S. investments, but he hinted that he had put the brakes on certain matters in the final stage.

[President Lee Jae-myung: "They say an agreement is nearly reached, but when I reviewed the details, there were parts that were not easy for me to agree with, so we are in discussions once again."]

Regarding the "difficult points to agree on," an official from the ruling camp explained that they concern "principles regarding the recovery of investment funds following the construction of nuclear power plants and combined-cycle gas turbine power plants in the U.S. that have been discussed." President Lee added the following remark, emphasizing that the national interest must come first.

[President Lee Jae-myung: "I believe we should not be swayed impulsively, or by specific relations, pressure, coercion, or anything of that sort. Not that the United States is doing that."]

President Lee also explained that "our government has a role to play in advancing North Korea-U.S. relations," reassuring that there is no need to worry about "Korea passing" in talks between Washington and Pyongyang.

(Video by Cho Chun-dong and Jeong Sang-bo | Video Editing by Park Seon-soo)