(News Focus) S. Korea signals Hormuz role with demining assets for anti-piracy unit

This will let Google show Yonhap news articles that match or are related to your search

SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's plan to deploy mine-clearing assets and expand the scope of operations for its anti-piracy unit signals a step forward in its commitment to restoring security in the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing disruptions from the U.S.-Iran conflict, experts here said Thursday.

It remains to be seen, however, how the move will be received in Washington, as the United States had previously expressed displeasure over Seoul's reluctance to join military efforts to keep the vital waterway open against Iranian threats, they noted. The decision could also weigh on South Korea's bilateral relations with Tehran.

Following a vice-ministerial meeting, Seoul announced plans to expand the Cheonghae Unit, operating in the Gulf of Aden, by deploying an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team and unmanned surface and underwater vehicles -- platforms known to be used in mine-sweeping missions.

The expansion also calls for doubling the unit's operational area to encompass waters south of Oman in the Arabian Sea, with the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to be deployed for monitoring missions.

Seoul officials emphasize that the enhancement of the Cheonghae Unit is strictly aimed at protecting its citizens and vessels in the region, stressing that the unit's operations will remain restricted to the open waters south of Oman.

The 48th contingent of the anti-piracy Cheonghae Unit leaves a port in Busan, some 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul, aboard the 4,400-ton Wang Geon destroyer, to rotate with the previous crew in the Gulf of Aden, on May 15, 2026, in this photo provided by the South Korean Navy. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

That said, the addition of an EOD team, along with uncrewed mine-sweeping systems, suggests the deployment is part of preparations for its potential participation in post-war joint operations to restore the Strait of Hormuz.

"It is not our primary focus," a defense ministry official told reporters on condition of anonymity during a background briefing Tuesday, when asked whether the reinforcement was intended to prepare for mine-clearing operations in the strait.

"But we did not rule out the possibility and that has been reflected in the operational plans," he said.

Notably, the motion to extend the deployment, which requires parliamentary approval, introduces a new mandate to "support efforts to restore freedom of navigation along international shipping routes," a clause seen as providing the legal basis for future post-war operations South Korea may join.

"As a member of the international community, we must prepare for when a 'permissive environment' is established," the official said. "We have promised to join upon request under those conditions. ... We cannot enter (the strait) unprepared."

The "permissive environment" is a condition that countries participating in the international initiative, led by Britain and France, say needs to be met for them to launch any combined mission to restore freedom of navigation in the region.

The condition is defined as either a complete cessation of conflict or a formal bilateral agreement between Washington and Tehran to initiate such operations, a position Seoul has fully endorsed.

Experts say the inclusion of mine-countermeasure assets ultimately signals to Washington that Seoul is taking steps in alignment with U.S.-led efforts to restore regional security.

"The South Korean government has framed the revised deployment plan as an expansion of existing anti-piracy operations," said Shin Beom-chul, a former vice defense minister and a senior research fellow at the Sejong Institute.

Facing limited international support for the war, Washington will likely view Seoul's decision as "good news," which could boost the bilateral alliance, Shin noted.

"The expanded deployment could, at least, offer Seoul leverage in its efforts to retake wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington, though whether it will help resolve friction over pending economic and other issues, such as the one surrounding Coupang, remains a question mark," he added, referring to persistent U.S. concerns over South Korean regulatory pressure on the e-commerce giant.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at the White House in Washington on Nov. 4, 2026, in this photo released by AFP. (Yonhap)

Seoul has consistently conveyed to Washington its willingness to contribute to stabilizing the Strait of Hormuz, and consulted closely with its ally regarding the reinforcement of the Cheonghae Unit, according to diplomatic sources.

Yet it remains unclear how the Donald Trump administration will view the unit's expanded deployment. Since the expansion does not immediately place South Korean forces in the strait, the move may fall short of Washington's expectations, experts said.

"I don't think it will gain tangible bargaining leverage with the U.S. unless (we) actually begin operating (in the strait)," said Cha Doo-hyeogn, a vice president and senior research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies.

How Tehran will react to the unit's reinforcement also draws attention. Iran has fiercely warned against Seoul joining any U.S.-led initiatives against it in the strait.

South Korea has reportedly continued to assure Iran that it will not be drawn into the conflict under any circumstances.

"We will continue to explain our position clearly (to Iran) through various diplomatic channels so as to ensure that Iran does not unfairly criticize South Korea or treat it as a hostile target," a Seoul official said.

elly@yna.co.kr (END)

(LEAD) S. Korea to expand anti-piracy mission closer to Hormuz, send more naval assets

(3rd LD) Seoul to continue taking necessary measures based on 'clear principles' over DMZ blast: Wi

Cheong Wa Dae says Lee's 'no war intervention' remark not a rejection of Trump's Hormuz request

(5th LD) Lee says S. Korea reviewing possible contribution to Hormuz but will not get involved in war

(News Focus) S. Korea signals Hormuz role with demining assets for anti-piracy unit

这将使谷歌能够向您展示与您的搜索匹配或相关的韩联社新闻文章。

首尔，11月5日（韩联社）——专家周四表示，韩国计划部署扫雷力量并扩大其反海盗部队的行动范围，这标志着韩国在美伊冲突持续造成的混乱中，朝着恢复霍尔木兹海峡安全的承诺迈出了重要一步。

然而，此举在华盛顿将如何反响仍有待观察，因为美国此前曾对首尔不愿加入旨在抵御伊朗威胁、维护这条重要水道畅通的军事行动表示不满。他们指出，这一决定也可能对韩国与德黑兰的双边关系产生影响。

在一次副部长会议后，首尔宣布计划扩大在亚丁湾活动的清海部队，部署一支爆炸物处理 (EOD) 小组和无人水面及水下航行器——这些平台众所周知用于扫雷任务。

此次扩建计划还要求将该部队的作战区域扩大一倍，涵盖阿拉伯海阿曼以南的水域，并部署 P-8A 海神海上巡逻机执行监视任务。

首尔官员强调，加强清海部队完全是为了保护该地区的公民和船只，并强调该部队的行动仍将仅限于阿曼以南的公海。

2026年5月15日，韩国海军提供的这张照片显示，清海部队第48批反海盗分遣队乘坐4400吨级的“王建”号驱逐舰，离开位于首尔东南约330公里釜山港，前往亚丁湾与上一批分遣队轮换执勤。（照片非卖品）（韩联社）

也就是说，增加爆炸物处理小组和无人扫雷系统表明，此次部署是为可能参与战后恢复霍尔木兹海峡的联合行动做准备的一部分。

周二，当被问及增援是否是为了准备在海峡进行扫雷行动时，国防部一名官员在匿名情况下告诉记者：“这不是我们的主要关注点。”

“但我们并没有排除这种可能性，这一点也体现在了行动计划中，”他说。

值得注意的是，延长部署的动议需要议会批准，其中引入了一项新的授权，即“支持恢复国际航运路线航行自由的努力”，这一条款被视为为韩国未来可能参与的战后行动提供了法律基础。

这位官员表示：“作为国际社会的一员，我们必须为‘宽松环境’的建立做好准备。我们已承诺在符合这些条件的情况下应要求加入……我们不能毫无准备地进入（海峡）。”

参与由英国和法国领导的国际倡议的国家表示，“允许的环境”是他们发起任何旨在恢复该地区航行自由的联合行动的必要条件。

该条件被定义为冲突完全停止，或者华盛顿和德黑兰之间达成正式的双边协议以启动此类行动，首尔方面对此立场表示完全赞同。

专家表示，部署反地雷装备最终向华盛顿表明，首尔正在采取措施，配合美国主导的恢复地区安全的努力。

“韩国政府将修订后的部署计划定位为现有反海盗行动的扩展，”前国防部副部长、世宗研究所高级研究员申范哲表示。

申指出，由于国际社会对这场战争的支持有限，华盛顿可能会将首尔的决定视为“好消息”，这可能会促进双边联盟。

“扩大部署至少可以为首尔争取从华盛顿手中夺回战时作战控制权（OPCON）提供筹码，但它是否有助于解决悬而未决的经济和其他问题（例如围绕Coupang的问题）上的摩擦，仍然是个未知数，”他补充道，指的是美国持续关注韩国对这家电子商务巨头施加的监管压力。

2026年11月4日，美国总统唐纳德·特朗普在华盛顿白宫向记者发表讲话。这张照片由法新社发布。（韩联社）

据外交消息人士透露，首尔一直向华盛顿表达其为稳定霍尔木兹海峡做出贡献的意愿，并就加强清海部队一事与其盟友进行了密切磋商。

然而，目前尚不清楚特朗普政府将如何看待该部队的扩编部署。专家表示，由于此次扩编并未立即将韩国军队部署到霍尔木兹海峡，因此该举措可能达不到华盛顿的预期。

“我认为，除非我们真正开始在海峡中开展行动，否则它不会获得与美国进行实质性谈判的筹码，”峨山政策研究所副总裁兼高级研究员车斗亨表示。

德黑兰将如何应对此次增援也备受关注。伊朗已强烈警告首尔，不要加入任何美国主导的针对伊朗在霍尔木兹海峡的行动。

据报道，韩国已继续向伊朗保证，在任何情况下都不会卷入冲突。

一位首尔官员表示：“我们将继续通过各种外交渠道向伊朗明确解释我们的立场，以确保伊朗不会不公平地批评韩国或将其视为敌对目标。”

elly@yna.co.kr（完）

（导语）韩国将扩大反海盗行动范围至霍尔木兹海峡附近，并增派海军力量

（第三条）首尔将继续基于“明确原则”对非军事区爆炸事件采取必要措施：Wi

青瓦台称李明博的“不干预战争”言论并非拒绝特朗普的霍尔木兹海峡请求。

（第五条）李表示，韩国正在考虑是否向霍尔木兹海峡地区提供援助，但不会卷入战争。

（新闻焦点）韩国向反海盗部队提供排雷资产，暗示其将在霍尔木兹海峡发挥重要作用