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South Korea paving way to send naval ship to Hormuz, reports say

SEOUL: South Korea has begun preparations for a possible deployment of a naval support ship and troops to the Strait of Hormuz, local media reports said, as President Donald Trump ramped up pressure on the US ally over its lack of support for the war with Iran.

The Star MalaysiaBloomberg2026-09-04 07:50查看原文 ↗

A presidential official said South Korea had been discussing practical ways to contribute to freedom of navigation in the strait. - Reuters

Seoul last month notified Washington that it was willing to dispatch a naval ship and maritime patrol aircraft, and began preparations to seek parliament’s approval, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper said Friday (Sept 4) without identifying its sources. Some 150 troops would be required to operate the ship and aircraft, the report added.

Separately, local broadcaster SBS said South Korea is in talks with foreign countries over ports of call and a base of operations for the envisioned deployment to Hormuz, citing an unidentified senior military official. The government may submit a motion seeking parliamentary approval as early as this month, it added.

South Korea’s presidential office described reports of an imminent Hormuz troop deployment as inaccurate. "No decisions have been made regarding this matter,” the Blue House said in a statement.

South Korea is in close consultations with the international community regarding practical ways to contribute to the speedy restoration of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and to peace and stability in the Middle East, the statement added.

If confirmed, South Korea would join a handful of European countries such as the UK and France in sending military assets to the region for safe shipping at the key waterway, a South Korean government official said.

A potential deployment would mark a significant shift in Seoul’s response after mounting pressure from Trump, who has openly questioned South Korea’s contribution to the alliance while demanding greater help for the US campaign against Iran.

The politically sensitive move would show President Lee Jae Myung prioritizing good relations with Washington by committing Korean forces to an increasingly costly Middle East conflict.

The South Korean official said that the country’s military may be able to contribute in a way that does not significantly impact its readiness to respond to developments on the Korean Peninsula.

Trump abruptly ordered the Pentagon to scale back annual joint military drills with the ally last month, citing his good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Seoul’s lack of help for the Iran war.

The US military has also scrapped an amphibious landing exercise with South Korea initially scheduled for this month due to the situation in the Middle East.

The US and Iran have intensified tit-for-tat military strikes in recent days, remaining locked between ceasefire efforts and all-out war as the White House struggles to end the six-month conflict.

As of July, the Pentagon put the cost of the war at about $37.5 billion, and the Trump administration is seeking an additional $67 billion in defense funding to help cover further costs. - Bloomberg

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一位总统府官员表示，韩国一直在探讨如何以切实可行的方式为霍尔木兹海峡的航行自由做出贡献。——路透社

首尔：据当地媒体报道，韩国已开始准备向霍尔木兹海峡部署海军支援舰艇和部队，此前美国总统唐纳德·特朗普加大了对美国盟友韩国的压力，原因是韩国不支持对伊朗的战争。

据《朝鲜日报》周五（9月4日）报道，首尔上个月通知华盛顿，愿意派遣一艘军舰和一架海上巡逻机，并已开始准备寻求国会批准。该报道未透露消息来源。报道还称，操作这艘军舰和飞机大约需要150名士兵。

另据韩国当地电视台SBS报道，韩国正与外国就计划部署至霍尔木兹岛的舰队的停靠港口和作战基地进行磋商，该报道援引了一位不愿透露姓名的高级军官的话。报道还称，韩国政府最早可能在本月向国会提交动议，寻求批准。

韩国总统府称有关即将向霍尔木兹岛部署军队的报道不实。青瓦台在一份声明中表示：“尚未就此事做出任何决定。”

声明还补充说，韩国正与国际社会密切磋商，探讨如何以切实可行的方式为尽快恢复霍尔木兹海峡的航行自由以及中东的和平与稳定做出贡献。

一位韩国政府官员表示，如果得到证实，韩国将加入英国和法国等少数几个欧洲国家的行列，向该地区派遣军事力量，以确保这条重要水道的航运安全。

如果部署美军，将标志着首尔在特朗普不断施压后，其应对措施发生了重大转变。特朗普公开质疑韩国对美韩同盟的贡献，同时要求韩国为美国打击伊朗的行动提供更多帮助。