SEOUL – South Korea is considering several measures, including a possible military role, to help safeguard freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, but no decision has been made to deploy military assets, the presidential office said.
The clarification came after local media reports claimed that Seoul was preparing to send military equipment to the strategic waterway by the end of the year and could seek parliamentary approval as early as this month.
A senior presidential official said the government had been examining practical ways to contribute to maintaining safe navigation through the strait, adding that military measures were among the options being assessed.
“Nothing has been decided,” the official said, stressing that any move would require consideration of South Korea’s legal framework, military preparedness on the Korean Peninsula and the need for parliamentary approval.
The official also rejected reports suggesting that Seoul had provided no assistance concerning the Strait of Hormuz. South Korea, the official said, had been engaged in discussions with the international community over possible practical contributions to maritime security in the region.
The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial global energy corridor through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supplies passes, making security in the waterway an important concern for energy-importing countries such as South Korea.
Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the European Union had joined Washington’s economic pressure campaign, dubbed “Operation Economic Outcast”, against Iran.
In a post on X, Bessent welcomed what he described as the EU’s strong and early position, saying the United States and its allies were seeking to prevent Iran from using the international financial system to support its nuclear programme, weapons development and affiliated militant groups.
The European Union said late last month that it would coordinate with the United States, G7 members and other international partners to maintain pressure on Iran while supporting efforts aimed at de-escalation and regional stability.
