Korean team for Strait of Hormuz assessment returns from UAE

A Korean government team returned from the United Arab Emirates on Thursday after assessing security and operational conditions near the Strait of Hormuz amid Seoul’s weighing of a possible military deployment. The team, made up of defense and foreign ministry officials, had inspected bases, ports and logistics conditions. Seoul says no final decision has been made, while Washington continues to press for contributions. The next Korea-U.S. defense dialogue in Busan is expected to raise the issue.

The team arrived at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on Thursday after its trip to the UAE.

The mission included checking key military bases and ports, along with logistical and other conditions near the strait.

Local reports said the possible deployment list could include the P-8A maritime patrol aircraft, a logistics support ship and explosive ordnance disposal teams.

Defense ministry directives require an on-site assessment before overseas military deployment, and the team must report its findings to the National Security Council.

Korea and the U.S. are expected to hold their key defense dialogue in Busan next week, and the Hormuz issue is not on the official agenda but could still come up.

Published Sep 10, 2026 1:19 pm KST

Vessels transit the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Iran's southern port city of Bandar Abbas, Monday. AFP-Yonhap

A Korean government team tasked with assessing the security situation near the Strait of Hormuz returned from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday as Seoul cautiously weighs a potential military deployment amid U.S. pressure.

The team, consisting of defense and foreign ministry officials, had left for the UAE on the weekend to conduct an on-site assessment of the overall security and operational situations near the strait, including checking key military bases and ports, as well as logistical and other conditions.

They arrived at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, on Thursday, according to officials with knowledge of the matter.

The mission to Abu Dhabi was carried out very discreetly as Seoul is carefully deliberating its potential role in helping secure a free and safe passage through the crucial shipping lane amid the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict.

The team's dispatch has widely been interpreted as Seoul leaning toward a military deployment to join U.S.-led operations in the region, triggering immediate backlash from Tehran.

The deployment issue has posed a diplomatic challenge for Seoul, as U.S. President Donald Trump's administration presses its key ally to commit forces and military assets to assist with U.S. operations in the region.

In a social media posting on Aug. 16, Trump said when he had recently asked President Lee Jae Myung whether Seoul would like to join U.S. efforts to "denuclearize" Iran, he was told, "No thanks." Trump said he would remember Lee's response.

Local news reports have speculated on the potential list of military assets for deployment, including the P-8A maritime patrol aircraft, a logistics support ship and explosive ordnance disposal teams — mainly non-combat assets.

However, the naval logistics support vessel has reportedly been ruled out as its operation would require dispatching more than 100 sailors.

The assessment team likely visited the Al Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi, home to a primary U.S. military installation in the UAE, to check operational conditions for the potential P-8A deployment.

Sending an assessment team to a candidate deployment site is part of the required procedures under the defense ministry's directives on overseas military deployment. Upon return, the team is obliged to report the result of the mission to the National Security Council.

The defense ministry, however, has stressed that the team's dispatch does not mean the deployment will follow, saying that its purpose was strictly to assess the security environment and safety conditions near the strait.

Speaking on MBC Radio on Thursday, Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations, reiterated that no final decision has been made about the deployment.

"If deployment was not an option, we could have technological assistance," Seong said. "While we can consider combat or noncombat forces in the form of deployment, we could also wisely explore alternatives for contribution."

Seoul appears to be taking a more prudent approach even as Washington is heaping pressure with its calls for military deployment amid growing negative sentiment even within the government and the ruling party.

It remains to be seen how Seoul will navigate its Hormuz dilemma in upcoming talks with Washington.

Korea and the U.S. are expected to hold their key defense dialogue in Busan next week, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Although the Hormuz contribution is not on the official agenda for the Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD), Washington could bring up the issue during the meeting.

韩国政府代表团周四从阿联酋返回，此前他们考察了霍尔木兹海峡附近的安全和作战环境。​​首尔方面正在权衡是否可能在该地区部署军队。该代表团由国防部和外交部官员组成，考察了军事基地、港口和后勤保障情况。首尔方面表示尚未做出最终决定，而华盛顿方面则继续敦促韩国做出相应贡献。预计在釜山举行的下一轮韩美防务对话将提出这一问题。

周四，该队结束了阿联酋之行，抵达首尔以西的仁川国际机场。

此次任务包括检查重要的军事基地和港口，以及海峡附近的后勤和其他状况。

当地报道称，可能的部署清单可能包括 P-8A 海上巡逻机、后勤支援舰和爆炸物处理小组。

国防部指令要求在海外军事部署前进行现场评估，评估小组必须向国家安全委员会报告评估结果。

预计韩国和美国将于下周在釜山举行重要的防务对话，霍尔木兹海峡问题虽然不在正式议程上，但仍有可能被提及。

发布于2026年9月10日下午1:19（韩国标准时间）

周一，船只通过伊朗南部港口城市阿巴斯港附近的霍尔木兹海峡。法新社-韩联社

韩国政府派出的一个负责评估霍尔木兹海峡附近安全形势的小组于周四从阿拉伯联合酋长国（阿联酋）返回，与此同时，在美方压力下，首尔正在谨慎权衡潜在的军事部署。

该小组由国防部和外交部官员组成，于周末前往阿联酋，对海峡附近的整体安全和行动情况进行实地评估，包括检查重要的军事基地和港口，以及后勤和其他条件。

据知情人士透露，他们于周四抵达首尔以西的仁川国际机场。

此次前往阿布扎比的任务执行得非常谨慎，因为在美伊冲突持续之际，首尔正在仔细考虑其在帮助确保这条关键航道的自由和安全通行方面可能发挥的作用。

该团队的派遣被广泛解读为首尔倾向于向美国领导的地区军事部署，以参与该地区的军事行动，立即引发了德黑兰的强烈反对。

部署问题给首尔带来了外交挑战，因为美国总统唐纳德·特朗普的政府正在向其主要盟友施压，要求其投入部队和军事资产，以协助美国在该地区的行动。

8月16日，特朗普在社交媒体上发文称，他最近询问韩国总统李在明，首尔是否愿意加入美国为伊朗“无核化”所做的努力，得到的答复是“不，谢谢”。特朗普表示，他会记住李在明的回答。

当地新闻报道猜测，可能部署的军事资产清单包括 P-8A 海上巡逻机、后勤支援舰和爆炸物处理小组——主要是非战斗资产。

然而，据报道，海军后勤支援舰已被排除在外，因为其操作需要派遣 100 多名水兵。

评估小组可能访问了位于阿布扎比的达夫拉空军基地，该基地是美国在阿联酋的主要军事设施所在地，目的是检查 P-8A 潜在部署的运行条件。

根据国防部关于海外军事部署的指示，向候选部署地点派遣评估小组是必要程序的一部分。评估小组返回后，有义务向国家安全委员会报告任务结果。

然而，国防部强调，派遣该小组并不意味着将会进行部署，称其目的严格来说是为了评估海峡附近的安全环境和安全状况。

周四，总统府公共关系高级秘书成基洪在MBC广播电台发表讲话时重申，尚未就部署事宜做出最终决定。

“如果部署不可行，我们可以提供技术援助，”Seong说道。“虽然我们可以考虑以部署形式提供作战或非作战部队，但我们也可以明智地探索其他贡献方式。”

尽管华盛顿不断施压要求部署军队，而政府和执政党内部的负面情绪也在日益增长，但首尔似乎采取了更为谨慎的做法。

首尔将如何在即将与华盛顿的会谈中应对霍尔木兹海峡困境，仍有待观察。

据知情人士透露，韩国和美国预计将于下周在釜山举行重要的防务对话。

尽管霍尔木兹海峡的贡献并未列入韩美联合防务对话（KIDD）的正式议程，但华盛顿方面可能会在会晤期间提出该问题。