South Korea reviews practical contributions to maritime security
South Korea’s presidential office said Wednesday that the United States has not recently asked it to deploy a warship or any other specific military asset to the Strait of Hormuz, responding to media reports that Washington had sought naval support.
“The government has not recently received a request from the United States to deploy any particular asset in connection with the safety of international maritime routes and freedom of navigation,” a presidential official said in a notice to reporters.
The office said Seoul continued to consider ways to help protect freedom of navigation through the strategically important waterway. “We have continued discussions with the United States on possible forms of cooperation,” the office said.
The presidential office said the government was reviewing practical contributions to freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz while considering South Korea’s military readiness on the Korean Peninsula, domestic legal procedures and other relevant factors. It declined to disclose details of its discussions with Washington, citing the sensitivity of military and security communications.
U.S. President Donald Trump was reported to have asked South Korea and other allies in March to send warships as concerns grew that conflict with Iran could lead to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Those discussions appeared to recede as the United States and Iran entered negotiations to end the conflict.
Speculation that Washington could again seek contributions from its allies has increased following attacks on commercial vessels in the strait and the resumption of U.S. airstrikes against Iran, the office acknowledged. Trump had also called on U.S. allies to participate in the U.S.-led Maritime Freedom Coalition before negotiations to end the conflict began.