Korea weighs naval deployment to Hormuz as U.S. seeks allied support
The government is considering concrete plans to deploy naval vessels and other military assets to the Strait of Hormuz, a shift from its more cautious stance as recently as last month.
A screen capture of a video released by U.S. Central Command shows an explosion on the deck of the Mozambique-flagged oil tanker M/T Ravin during a U.S. military strike near the Strait of Hormuz on July 24.REUTERS/YONHAP
The South Korean governmentis considering concrete plans to deploy naval vessels and other military assets to the Strait of Hormuz as the United States pushes for a coordinated response from its allies following renewed tensions with Iran.
“The government is reviewing fairly detailed options for how South Korea could contribute once the situation in the Strait of Hormuz stabilizes,” multiple officials said on Sunday.
The comments mark a shift from the government’s more cautious stance as recently as last month, when officials said that no decision had been made on whether South Korea would join any multinational initiatives or deploy military assets to the region.
This change follows the effective collapse of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Washington and Tehran, which aimed to end the conflict and restore safe commercial passage through the strait, a vital route for global oil shipments.
The two signed the MOU on June 18, but Iran continued attacking civilian vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. As a result, U.S. President Donald Trump effectively declared the deal over earlier this month, after which Iran announced that it was withdrawing from the agreement. Iranian attacks and U.S. airstrikes have since continued.
South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense previously drew up a phased response plan covering a range of options: signing international statements of support, joining a multinational coalition, expanding personnel deployments, sharing military intelligence and even committing military assets.
Until recently, the ministry described the plan as little more than an internal review and said that no decision had been made regarding South Korea’s participation. But with tensions in the Middle East having escalated again, calls within the government to “actively cooperate with U.S. requests for contributions” are reportedly gaining traction.
HMM’s very large crude carrier Universal Winner, the first Korean vessel stranded in the Strait of Hormuz to leave the waterway following the Middle East conflict, approaches an offshore crude oil unloading buoy in Ulsan on June 10.YONHAP
That shift also comes as Washington strengthens its efforts to organize a broader allied response to secure the strait, seeking diplomatic and military backing from Europe and Asia.
“The [United States] and [Britain] are planning to convene a high-level meeting in London next week that will focus on a potential international coalition to protect maritime shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” Axios reported on Friday. “[U.S.] Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine would potentially attend.”
“[The United States] wants its allies to send assets to the region, such as demining vessels, naval vessels and drones to help secure shipping lanes,” Axios added.
While the South Korean government said that the United States has not specifically requested that it deploy a warship, it has not denied receiving a broader request for assistance.
“[We] have not recently received a request from the United States to deploy specific assets in connection with the safety of international sea lanes and freedom of navigation,” a Blue House official confirmed.
“As we continue discussions with the United States on relevant areas of cooperation, we are reviewing practical ways to contribute to the freedom of passage through the Strait of Hormuz and taking into account various factors, including the Korean Peninsula’s readiness posture and procedures under domestic law.”
Vessels float on the Strait of Hormuz on June 16.REUTERS/YONHAP
The Blue House’s specific mention of procedures under domestic law has fueled speculation that the government is weighing a naval deployment, as the Defense Ministry has repeatedly said that sending South Korean forces overseas would require National Assembly approval.
The government is also likely considering options such as sending minesweepers; supporting other countries’ mine-cleaning operations from outside the strait itself; or deploying ships or aircraft for intelligence-gathering and patrol duties in the region, according to experts.
Additionally, if a multinational coalition is formed under British leadership or that of other U.S. allies, South Korea is likely to voice its support while making any actual deployment conditional on an end to the fighting in the Strait of Hormuz and the National Assembly’s approval.
The country is also expected to weigh public and parliamentary opinion since moving patrol ships, intelligence vessels or other assets to the Middle East could affect its defense posture against North Korea.
“One of the key conditions many countries have set is that fighting in the strait ends so that conditions on the ground are safe enough for an international maritime mission,” Axios reported.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
