The South Korean government has reaffirmed its cautious stance regarding potential military contributions in the Hormuz Strait, stating that no specific plans have been finalized. To address concerns surrounding the US-South Korea alliance, the government announced plans for a foreign ministers' meeting later this month. In terms of inter-Korean relations, officials reiterated the priority of establishing a peace regime over economic cooperation.
During a government Q&A session on foreign affairs, unification, and security held on September 10, Prime Minister Han Seung-soo stated, "As of now, no practical contribution plans have been decided regarding the Hormuz Strait."
However, he added, "We are considering various scenarios due to the importance of freedom of navigation and the oil secured through the Hormuz Strait, as well as the global supply chain. We are reviewing multiple options." This suggests a comprehensive evaluation of energy security, the safety of South Korean vessels, and international cooperation without specifying troop deployment or mission scope.
The government is also preparing for potential energy supply disruptions stemming from tensions in the Hormuz Strait. First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Yoon-joo mentioned that discussions are ongoing with relevant ministries regarding alternative supply routes and energy stockpiling exchanges between countries, including Japan. The government emphasized that any future contributions will be based on domestic legal procedures and social consensus.
Regarding concerns that President Donald Trump may pressure South Korea to export the Cheongung-II surface-to-air missile system to Ukraine, Prime Minister Han expressed caution. He stated, "There has not yet been an official request," emphasizing that arms exports must consider international circumstances, relevant laws, parliamentary opinions, and public consensus.
In response to worries about the US-South Korea alliance, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun actively addressed these by announcing the upcoming foreign ministers' meeting. He stated, "The US-South Korea alliance is fundamentally strong," and plans to meet with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later this month.
Cho acknowledged that even a strong alliance may have differing views but emphasized that any contentious issues have been resolved through close consultations with the US. He asserted that claims of problems within the alliance lack basis and that any differences can be adequately addressed through discussions between the two countries.
On North Korea policy, the focus has shifted from economic cooperation to establishing a peace regime that addresses North Korea's security concerns. Unification Minister Jeong Dong-young remarked, "Merely enhancing North Korea's economic interests will not bring back the golden era of inter-Korean relations experienced during past democratic administrations," adding that fundamental problem-solving has now become a priority.
Jeong noted that with the restoration of North Korea's relations with China and Russia, it is unlikely that economic incentives alone will draw North Korea to dialogue. He emphasized the need to prioritize the establishment of a peace regime that alleviates North Korea's security concerns, stating, "In the past, the order was to prioritize peace and economic issues, but that order has now changed."
He also assessed that significant obstacles to the four-party talks, such as the presence of US troops in South Korea and bilateral agreements between North Korea and the US, have largely been resolved. Jeong asserted that the time is ripe for establishing a peace regime through four-party dialogue and urged the need to actively leverage the current momentum in US-North Korea discussions initiated by President Trump.
However, he noted that there are currently no official communication channels between the two Koreas. Jeong stated, "It has been seven years since all contact, dialogue, and communication have been severed," emphasizing the urgency of restoring inter-Korean relations.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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