South Korea has not reached a final decision but “a review is still under way” on any deployment of forces to the Strait of Hormuz, a presidential official clarified on Friday.
“South Korea may be able to make military contributions to global efforts to ensure free navigation through the strait, to the extent that such contributions do not compromise its defense readiness, if it decides to do so,” a presidential official told Seoul-based Yonhap news agency.
Earlier, an unnamed Defense Ministry official told SBS broadcaster that Seoul was making “concrete preparations” to dispatch naval forces to the strait.
SBS claimed preparations for the deployment include P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, an explosive ordnance disposal team and a logistics support ship.