South Korea is continuing to assess a possible contribution to maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz after dispatching a fact-finding team to the United Arab Emirates, while stressing that no decision on troop deployment has been made.
Dozens of protesters in Seoul opposed any military involvement, as Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei warned that foreign participation in Gulf operations would be viewed as support for aggression.
Key developments:
- South Korea’s Ministry of National Defence says the assessment mission does not presume deployment.
- Any deployment would require approval through South Korea’s political and parliamentary process.
- Analysts suggest Seoul could opt for a limited or multilateral contribution rather than a US-led mission.
The deliberations reflect Seoul’s effort to balance its alliance with the United States, regional security commitments and the risk of escalating tensions with Iran.
ℹ️ Al Jazeera, CNA
Follow on social media TikTok@tut0ughInstagram@tut0ugh Threads@tut0ugh X@tut0ugh YouTube@tut0ugh
