South Korea Announces It Will Expand Anti-Piracy Mission to Waters Closer to Oman
This sounds like the Lee administration try to appease Trump as much as they can without actually getting involved in the conflict:
The 49th contingent of the anti-piracy Cheonghae unit aboard the 4,400-ton Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin destroyer leaves a naval port in the southeastern city of Busan, some 330 kilometers from Seoul, in this file photo from Oct. 2, 2026, to rotate with the previous crew operating in the Gulf of Aden, in this file photo provided by the South Korean Navy Operational Command. (Yonhap)
South Korea plans to expand its anti-piracy mission off Somalia to waters near the Strait of Hormuz with additional military assets, including a maritime patrol aircraft and an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team, to be deployed, officials said Thursday, signaling the country’s first contribution to the conflict-stricken region.
The move follows months of deliberation over its role in international efforts to keep the strategic waterway open since the U.S.-Iran war erupted in February. Seoul has effectively turned down requests from its ally Washington for military support against Tehran. (……)
“The enhancement of the Cheonghae unit’s mission is to protect our citizens and safeguard our economic interests,” a defense ministry official said earlier on the condition of anonymity, stressing that the proposed reinforcement is strictly for non-combat purposes and the unit will operate independently from any allied forces.
“Operations will remain restricted to the open waters south of Oman, and the maritime patrol aircraft will be prohibited from targeting or monitoring Iranian territory, territorial waters or the interior of the Strait of Hormuz during their missions,” he said.
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