South Korea may deploy forces to the Strait of Hormuz by year-end, reports say

South Korea is reportedly preparing to send military assets to the Strait of Hormuz by the end of the year, but the presidential office says no deployment decision has been finalized.

Several South Korean media outlets, citing government and military sources, said Seoul was preparing the procedures needed to support freedom of navigation through the strategic waterway. The process could involve cabinet deliberations followed by a request for parliamentary approval this month.

The options under consideration reportedly include maritime patrol aircraft, a logistics support ship, or units equipped to detect and clear mines. South Korea has also been discussing the possible scale and form of support with the United States, Britain and France.

The presidential office said Seoul had indeed been discussing ways to make a practical contribution to freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. But it rejected reports that the government had already settled on sending military forces, saying those reports were “inconsistent with the facts.”

The issue follows comments by U.S. President Donald Trump in August that he had partly reduced U.S.-South Korean military exercises because South Korea refused to help Washington in its war against Iran.

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inconsistent with the facts