South Korea said it would send maritime patrol aircraft and a mine countermeasures team to the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz

🔻The South Korean Ministry of Defense says that as part of a mission to help keep the Strait of Hormuz open, it will deploy maritime patrol aircraft and a team to neutralize munitions and explosive materials to waters near the strait.

The news comes as South Korea continues to emphasize that it will not dispatch any force for military intervention in the Iran war. However, the country said it is seeking to protect commercial shipping and to supply energy through one of the world’s most important sea lanes.

A spokesperson for the South Korean Ministry of Defense confirmed on Thursday that the government intends to expand the operational area of its naval unit tasked with countering piracy, known as “Cheonghae.” This unit is responsible for protecting commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden, near the coast of Somalia, and is set to expand its activities to waters near the Strait of Hormuz.

South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that the mission will include the dispatch of a destroyer, a P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, a team of unmanned surface vessels, unmanned submarines, and remotely operated guided vessels for underwater reconnaissance.

According to Yonhap, extending the mission of the “Cheonghae” unit—whose current authorization is set to run through the end of this calendar year—requires approval by parliament.

After Seoul announced that it is reviewing participation in securing this waterway, Tehran warned South Korea against any dispatch of forces in this regard.