South Korea's Presidential Office said it may have room to act on a possible naval deployment to the Strait of Hormuz "within a range that does not significantly damage readiness on the Korean Peninsula."
A senior Presidential Office official told reporters on the 4th that "the deployment of military assets to the Strait of Hormuz is under review." Responding to reports that the government is discussing sending a navy logistics support ship and patrol aircraft to the strait, the official said the economic and security damage from a closure would be severe, noting that South Korea depends on the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz for close to 70% of its crude oil. "Free passage through Hormuz is an extremely important part of our national interest," the official said.
"That is why, when we were asked to join an international coalition for free passage through the Strait of Hormuz, we actively took part and held consultations," the official said. "We have said we would review the matter taking various aspects of Korean Peninsula readiness into account and in accordance with domestic legal procedures." The official added, "We are at that review stage now, and nothing has been decided."
On what a substantive contribution to free passage through the strait might look like, the official said there are various forms of military contribution. "There is combat and there is non-combat," the official said, adding that the government is reviewing the options comprehensively. "When ordinary people hear 'deployment,' they tend to link it to combat, but that is not necessarily the case. There can be a variety of options."
Asked about the argument that a decision to deploy forces to Hormuz would require ratification by the National Assembly, the official said, "We are conducting various reviews related to readiness on the Korean Peninsula, and our thinking is that there may be room to act within a range that does not significantly damage readiness." The official added, "Domestic legal procedures mean consultation with and consent from the National Assembly, but we have not yet reached that stage."
