The South Korean government is moving forward with discussions regarding a potential military deployment to the Hormuz Strait, prompted by U.S. pressure. The government has reiterated its stance on the warnings issued by Iran, stating that communication is ongoing.
A senior official from the Blue House stated on September 9 during a press briefing in Paris that the topic of deployment should not be the sole focus of discussions surrounding the upcoming South Korea-France summit. "We are currently in the review stage, and nothing has been definitively decided," the official said. They also commented on the Defense Ministry's decision to send an investigation team to the United Arab Emirates, noting that this is part of the review process and that no final decisions have been made.
The Defense Ministry announced the previous day that it had dispatched a team to assess the situation in Hormuz. The ministry emphasized that the investigation is aimed at understanding the local security environment and is not a precursor to deployment, countering claims that the U.S. had set a deadline for the deployment of South Korean assets to the Strait.
Meanwhile, tensions between the U.S. and Iran have escalated. According to reports from the AP and other outlets, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) retaliated against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after they launched two ballistic missile attacks targeting U.S. Navy ships over the past two days, striking five oil tankers in response.
Iran has also issued warnings to South Korea. Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, recently posted a message in Korean on social media, stating that military presence or participation in operations in the Hormuz Strait could be seen as direct support for U.S. aggression, potentially leading to serious consequences. He also included a photo with the phrase, "There will be a price for dangerous choices."
In response, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon held a regular briefing in Seoul, stating, "We are closely communicating with relevant parties to restore peace and stability in the Middle East and ensure the free passage of all vessels, including ours, through the Hormuz Strait," reiterating previous statements.
Additionally, a Foreign Ministry official told reporters that they have not received any official protests from the Iranian Foreign Ministry. "Our diplomatic channels remain open, and we are not currently considering summoning the Iranian ambassador to South Korea," the official said, indicating a cautious approach as discussions about deployment continue.
Jang Ji-hyang, a senior researcher at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, suggested in a conversation with Aju Economy that South Korea could communicate to Iran that its vessels are trapped in the Hormuz Strait, which is vital for energy security, and that it seeks to engage in defensive activities in accordance with international norms for its national interests and the public good of the international community. He also mentioned that it might be worthwhile to revisit Iran's stance on incidents like the Namooho attack.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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