Cheong Wa Dae clarified today (September 19) that President Lee Jae-myung's remarks during a press conference stating that "there will be no troop deployment that intervenes in war" did not mean a rejection of U.S. President Donald Trump's request for troop deployment to the Strait of Hormuz.

A Cheong Wa Dae official made the remarks regarding a report by U.S. daily The New York Times (NYT), which suggested that President Lee's remarks at the press conference the previous day meant he would not send troops to Hormuz, thereby rejecting President Trump's request.

The official explained, "President Lee did not reject President Trump's request for South Korea's cooperation regarding the Middle East at yesterday's press conference," adding, "The government has been reviewing practical contribution measures to protect our citizens and defend national interests in close communication with the international community, including the United States."

The official added, "The government will continue to review specific contribution measures under the principled stance that it will not intervene in wars or combat."

During the press conference the previous day, President Lee noted, "There will be no troop deployment that participates or intervenes in war."