After Iran warns it will consider involvement direct participation in war, Seoul says it is in close contact with international community

South Korea says it is maintaining close contact with the international community after Iran warned that involvement in the Strait of Hormuz would amount to military aggression and participation in the war.

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Our government is communicating closely with the international community, including the countries concerned, for the prompt restoration of peace and stability in the Middle East and the free navigation of all vessels, including ours, in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Foreign Ministry said the government was working with relevant countries and the wider international community to help restore peace and stability in the Middle East quickly. It also cited the need to preserve freedom of navigation for all vessels, including South Korean ships, in the strait.

The presidential office said the day before that Seoul was examining several options, including combat participation, non-combat support and search operations. It stressed that the process had not reached the point of submitting a troop deployment consent bill to the National Assembly.

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We are at the stage of examining various options, including combat participation, non-combat operations and search operations.

A senior presidential official said South Korea could consider room for action as long as its readiness on the Korean Peninsula was not seriously weakened. The official said any practical contribution in the Strait of Hormuz would have to take that readiness into account, while noting that military contributions could include both combat and non-combat roles.

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We have not reached the stage of submitting a troop deployment consent bill to the National Assembly.