Rep. Kim Byung-joo of the Democratic Party of Korea said on the 9th that findings from a survey team reportedly dispatched to the Middle East to assess a possible deployment to the Strait of Hormuz "will serve only as reference material and will not be the dominant factor." Kim also voiced opposition to the deployment itself, saying Korea "must not be drawn into a war that has no just cause."
Kim, a former four-star army general who serves as the ruling party's chief negotiator on the National Assembly's National Defense Committee, made the remarks on KBS Radio's "Breaking Current Affairs," adding that he views the survey team as "one step in a review process that examines and checks everything in advance." He said the government "has stated that nothing has been officially decided on a deployment," and that the team was likely sent "out of an abundance of caution before any deployment."
On the team's role, Kim said there is much to examine. "For patrol aircraft, for example, we need to check which airfield to use and whether it is safe. If we send a supply ship or other naval assets, we need agreements with the host country on which warships to use and which ports," he said. "We also have to check what other countries are doing, how much activity our oil tankers have in the Strait of Hormuz and nearby waters, how far safety can be guaranteed, and how many overseas Koreans live near any base we might use."
On deployments by other countries, Kim said, "As far as I know, no country is operating in the Strait of Hormuz under direct U.S. control." He added, "My understanding is that some countries, including France, are operating outside the strait rather than inside it, taking preliminary steps to stabilize the strait or to guarantee freedom of navigation once the fighting ends."
Kim repeatedly stressed that Korea should be cautious about a deployment given the international situation. "In a sense this is a war of aggression by the United States and Israel, a war with no just cause, and we must not be drawn into it," he said. "If we simply follow the U.S. lead, we will end up entangled in a Middle East war. That must not happen." He added that the risks are considerable "because the safety of our troops would not be guaranteed and our oil tankers and merchant ships could become targets of Iranian attacks," and said the deployment question "requires the utmost caution."
Addressing the government, Kim said, "The national interest is what matters, so we need to stay centered. We must not be pulled along unilaterally by President Donald Trump or by U.S. demands." He urged the government not to rush a decision.
On sentiment among Democratic Party lawmakers, Kim said the view is that "since the government has not yet made a decision, arguing back and forth about it is not desirable from the standpoint of the national interest." He said lawmakers are "generally refraining from voicing opinions on the deployment."
Kim also criticized the scaled-back South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise, saying, "President Trump abruptly ordered it scaled back and we had no choice but to comply. This is extremely discourteous." He added, "It is like reaching the final of a soccer match and being told, 'Let's just play the first half and call it a day.'" Still, he said the Combined Forces Command "plans to make up the one week that was cut through smaller-scale drills going forward, so that combined readiness is not compromised."
