Seoul:South Korea plans to expand its anti-piracy mission from Somalia to waters near the Strait of Hormuz by deploying additional military assets, including a maritime patrol aircraft and an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team. This marks the country's first contribution to the conflict-stricken region.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the move follows months of deliberation over South Korea's role in international efforts to maintain open strategic waterways since the U.S.-Iran conflict began in February. Seoul has declined requests from its ally, Washington, for military support against Tehran.
The revised deployment mandate for the Cheonghae unit, currently operating in the Gulf of Aden, will extend its operational area northeast to waters south of Oman in the Arabian Sea. This expansion will nearly double its operational radius to approximately 1,930 kilometers. Additionally, the P-8A maritime patrol aircraft will support the destroyer in escorting commercial ships and ensuring maritime safety through the Red Sea.
A defense ministry official emphasized that the enhancement of the Cheonghae unit's mission aims to protect South Korean citizens and safeguard economic interests, with the reinforcement being strictly for non-combat purposes. The unit will operate independently from allied forces, with operations restricted to open waters south of Oman. The maritime patrol aircraft will not target or monitor Iranian territory or the interior of the Strait of Hormuz.
The expansion will increase the unit's personnel count by 75, bringing the total to 395. The government intends to submit the motion for the revised mandate to the National Assembly following Cabinet endorsement. South Korean law requires parliamentary consent for overseas military deployments or mission expansions.
The mission will include a mandate to "support efforts to restore freedom of navigation in international shipping routes." The deployment of an EOD team and unmanned mine-sweeping systems will prepare Seoul for potential post-war joint operations to restore the Strait of Hormuz.
The operation will involve deploying remotely operated submersible robots to locate and detonate sea mines. South Korea seeks to test the performance and adaptability of its unmanned mine countermeasures systems.
South Korea has aligned with Britain, France, and other partner nations on the need for a "permissive environment" to launch recovery operations in the Strait of Hormuz, contingent on the end of the U.S.-Iran conflict or a formal agreement between the two sides.
Deploying these non-combat assets in the Strait of Hormuz would require separate parliamentary approval, a step the government is prepared to take. Seoul plans to operate the newly added assets from Djibouti, a strategic choke point connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
The Cheonghae unit, formed in 2009, assists with the U.N. mission to battle piracy in the Gulf of Aden. Its mandate is renewed annually, with the current deployment expiring on December 31. The unit currently includes a 4,400-ton destroyer, a naval helicopter, high-speed boats, and other assets. Its 49th contingent aboard the Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin destroyer left for the Gulf of Aden on October 2.