[Anchor]

The South Korean government is reviewing plans to expand the operational area of the Cheonghae Unit deployed in the Gulf of Aden to waters off Oman and to send an additional maritime patrol aircraft. Amid the policy that troop deployment to war is not possible, interpretations suggest this move effectively substitutes for a troop deployment.

Choi Jae-yeong reports.

[Reporter]

The Ministry of National Defense is reportedly reviewing extending the deployment period of the Cheonghae Unit, which expires at "the end of this year," and expanding its current operational scope, centered in the Gulf of Aden, to waters adjacent to Oman connected to the Strait of Hormuz.

As the operational scope expands, deploying an additional maritime patrol aircraft to monitor vessel movements has also reportedly been put on the discussion table.

The Ministry of National Defense, however, maintains the position that reviewing the expansion of the Cheonghae Unit's operational scope is not in response to the U.S. request for troop deployment to the Strait of Hormuz.

It stated that pirate activity around the Gulf of Aden has surged in the aftermath of the Iran war, making it a critical time to strengthen response capabilities to protect South Korean commercial vessels.

However, interpretations also suggest that broadening the Cheonghae Unit's operational scope to waters off Oman instead of a separate troop deployment effectively serves as a "substitute" for deployment.

A Blue House official explained, "Expanding the Cheonghae Unit's mission can effectively be seen as meaning there will be no troop deployment."

Earlier, President Lee Jae-myung mentioned strengthening the Cheonghae Unit's activities at a press conference last month while stating that there would be no "deployment to war."

[President Lee Jae-myung (Press Conference for the Public (September 18)) : "There is no troop deployment that involves or intervenes in the war. I can state that clearly. It is also true that we are reviewing and contemplating strengthening this (the Cheonghae Unit's mission)."]

Taking domestic concerns into account, there are also forecasts that even if the Cheonghae Unit's operational scope is expanded, the actual timing of implementation will be after the Iran war ends.

Since its first deployment in 2009, the Cheonghae Unit has extended its deployment period every 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)