The South Korean government is officially reviewing the possibility of deploying troops to the Hormuz Strait amid increasing pressure from the United States. In response to warnings from the Iranian government, officials have reiterated their commitment to ongoing communication.
A senior official from the Blue House stated on October 9 during a press briefing in Paris that the topic of troop deployment should not be defined as the main subject of discussions regarding the upcoming South Korea-France summit. "We are currently in the review stage, and nothing has been specifically decided," the official said. Regarding the Defense Ministry's dispatch of an investigation team to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the official added, "The dispatch can be seen as part of the review process, but no decisions have been made."
The Defense Ministry announced the previous day that it had sent a team to assess the situation in Hormuz. The ministry emphasized that the investigation is aimed at understanding the local security situation and that allegations suggesting the investigation is a precursor to troop deployment or that the U.S. has set a deadline for the deployment of South Korean assets are unfounded.
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) for two recent ballistic missile attacks targeting U.S. Navy vessels by striking five oil tankers.
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, "Military presence or participation in operations in the Hormuz Strait could be seen as direct support for U.S. aggression and could lead to serious consequences." He also included an image with the phrase, "Dangerous choices come with costs."
In response, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon held a regular briefing in Seoul on October 9, 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 troop deployment remains under review.
In an interview with Aju Economy, Jang Ji-hyang, a senior researcher at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, suggested that South Korea could communicate to Iran, "Our ships are trapped in the Hormuz Strait, which is crucial for energy security, and we intend to engage in defensive activities in accordance with international norms for our national interests and the public good of the international community." He also noted that it might be worthwhile to revisit Iran's stance on incidents such as the Namooho attack.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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