ISTANBUL
South Korea’s Defense Ministry said Thursday that it has decided to extend the operational area of its Cheonghae anti-piracy unit closer to the Strait of Hormuz, public broadcaster KBS reported.
The expansion will also involve the deployment of additional military assets to the region.
It will add 75 personnel to the unit, bringing its total strength to 395, Yonhap News Agency reported.
For several months, Seoul has maintained that it was reviewing the possibility of deploying forces to the Strait of Hormuz. However, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has ruled out sending combat troops, stressing that the country would not deploy military personnel in a way that could draw it into an overseas conflict.
The ministry said Thursday that it is planning to “seek Cabinet review and presidential approval for the move before submitting a related motion to the National Assembly.”
The Strait of Hormuz has remained at the center of the conflict between the United States and Iran since the US and Israel launched military operations against Tehran in February.
The Cheonghae unit has been deployed since 2009, with its mandate requiring annual parliamentary approval.
According to KBS, the unit has been deployed primarily to the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia, as well as to “contingency zones designated to protect South Korean citizens.”
The report added that the planned revised motion by the ministry would extend its area of operations to the southern tip of Oman’s Duqm Port, which is approximately 650 kilometers (403.8 miles) from Hormuz.
“The ministry is also seeking to send reinforcements to the unit, including a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, various unmanned mine countermeasure assets and an explosive ordnance disposal team,” the report added.
