South Korea has dispatched an investigation team to assess the situation in the conflict-stricken Strait of Hormuz, the defense ministry said Tuesday, amid repeated calls from Washington for Seoul to assist its war efforts against Iran.
The team departed for the United Arab Emirates over the weekend and is expected to return as early as this week. The examination results will be reported to the National Security Council, the ministry added.
"It is aimed at assessing the state of affairs and the security situation in the strait," a ministry official explained, stressing that the dispatch "was not decided on the premise of military deployment."
The ministry also rejected a news report claiming Washington has requested Seoul to decide by November whether it will send troops.
The latest move comes some six months after US President Donald Trump urged five nations, including South Korea, to send warship to the strait and help secure the key shipping route in the Middle East.
Trump has recently ratcheted up pressure on Seoul to make a military contribution to efforts to secure navigation through the strait, claiming in August that the South Korean government has said "no thanks" to such requests.
On Monday, Seoul's foreign ministry said South Korea is closely communicating with relevant countries and the international community to help ensure the free passage of all vessels through the strait. The presidential office earlier said no decision has been made on troop deployment, adding it is still reviewing various options.
The defense ministry was said to be reviewing a list of "military assets" that can be deployed immediately should a decision to make a military contribution be made.
The list is believed to include a maritime patrol aircraft, bomb disposal experts, and sea mine detection and removal equipment. (Yonhap)
