Defense ministry spokesperson Jeong Bit-na told a regular press briefing that such authority could be exercised only "temporarily and within a specific area," emphasizing its limited scope.
Her remarks came after the government submitted a revised deployment extension proposal to the National Assembly on Tuesday, seeking to expand the Cheonghae unit's operational area beyond the Gulf of Aden off Somalia to include international waters south of Oman.
The proposal stipulates that when the unit participates in international maritime security operations involving the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) or the European Union, tactical control would fall under the commander overseeing operations in the area rather than the chairman of South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
The addition has raised concerns that the expanded mission could open the door to South Korean involvement in maritime operations near the Strait of Hormuz.
"The revised deployment extension proposal clearly states that the chairman of South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff retains command authority over the unit," Jeong said.
She added that the provision has been included in deployment extension proposals since the Cheonghae unit's first deployment in 2009, including last year.
She noted that a South Korean Navy captain has commanded Combined Task Force 151 (CTF-151), a multinational counter-piracy task force operating under the CMF, since August.
Jeong reiterated that the ministry would proceed with the proposal while maintaining its commitment to avoiding involvement in war or combat.
"We will move forward in accordance with the firm principle that we will not become involved in war or combat, ensuring that the Cheonghae unit can focus on protecting our nationals and vessels," she said.
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