Seoul expands naval mission: South Korea sends assets to Hormuz
The Cheonghae unit will include a destroyer, patrol aircraft, and underwater robots to protect shipping routes affected by the US-Iran war.
By James Anderson ·
The South Korean defense ministry announced on Thursday that it will expand the operational area of its Cheonghae anti-piracy unit to include waters near the Strait of Hormuz. The move aims to secure commercial shipping and energy supplies while avoiding direct military involvement in the conflict between the United States and Iran.
The deployment package includes a destroyer, a P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, and an explosive ordnance disposal team. The mission will also feature unmanned surface vessels, unmanned underwater vehicles, and remotely operated vehicles for underwater exploration.
The Cheonghae unit currently protects commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia. Extending its mandate to the Strait of Hormuz requires parliamentary approval. The unit's current authorization expires at the end of this year.
A defense ministry official speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity stated that the reinforcement is strictly for non-combat purposes. The official said the unit will operate independently of allied forces. "The enhancement of the Cheonghae unit's mission is to protect our citizens and safeguard our economic interests," the official said.
The official outlined specific operational limits to prevent escalation. Operations will remain restricted to the open waters south of Oman. The maritime patrol aircraft will be prohibited from targeting or monitoring Iranian territory, territorial waters, or the interior of the Strait of Hormuz during their missions.
President Lee Jae Myung reiterated in September that South Korea would not deploy troops in a way that could lead to military intervention. "We have upheld the principle of non-involvement and non-intervention in the war until now," he said. "And we will continue to uphold it going forward."
The US-Iran war began on February 28 and has disrupted shipping through the strait. The waterway typically carries about a fifth of the world's oil. Tehran has warned South Korea against any such deployment after Seoul said it was weighing a contribution to the security of the waterway.
