South Korean Defense Minister An Gyu-baek stated on the 17th that there has been no official request from the U.S. for deploying ships to the Hormuz Strait.
On the 17th, South Korean Defense Minister An Gyu-baek clarified in a parliamentary defense committee meeting that the country has yet to receive any formal request from the United States regarding the deployment of vessels to the Hormuz Strait. This came in response to questions from lawmakers, including Jeong Cheong-rae from the Democratic Party, who inquired whether there had been any official or unofficial requests from the U.S. concerning troop deployments.
On the 14th, U.S. President Donald Trump made remarks on social media suggesting that nations affected by the situation in the Hormuz Strait, including China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK, should send naval ships to the area. However, Minister An emphasized that social media communications are not considered official requests, indicating that any formal procedure involving official documents or discussions between the two countries' ministers would be required, but such formalities have not occurred yet.
Regarding the possibility of deploying the Cheonghae Unit, which is currently engaged in anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden, to the Hormuz Strait, An stated that no discussions have taken place. He classified the situation in the Hormuz Strait as one of active conflict, indicating that any decision to send naval vessels there would necessitate consent from the National Assembly, as per the constitution. Lawmaker Yoo Yong-won raised concerns about the risks involved, especially with respect to the unit’s mandate focused on anti-piracy, and highlighted the need for careful consideration before any deployment is executed.
