South Korea Reiterates No Decision on Troop Deployment to Hormuz

The Blue House reiterated on September 8 that no decision has been made regarding troop deployment to the Hormuz Strait, as the government continues to explore ways to contribute to the region.

It was also noted that there was no significant progress during the Korea-France summit. The discussions between the two leaders were interpreted as focusing on how South Korea can participate in and contribute to international efforts for safe navigation in the Hormuz Strait, rather than on troop deployment itself.

A senior official from the Blue House stated during a press briefing in Paris, "We should not define today’s discussions as being about troop deployment. The focus remains on how to contribute to international cooperation regarding navigation issues in the Strait, as proposed by France and the UK."

The official added, "While we exchanged views on how South Korea can make a practical contribution, there is no significant progress to report. We are still in the review stage, and nothing has been concretely decided, nor is there any new situation to report."

Regarding the Ministry of National Defense's dispatch of a survey team to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the official confirmed it was as explained by the ministry. He elaborated, "The dispatch of the survey team can be seen as part of the review process for deployment, but no decisions have been made yet."

Previously, the Ministry of National Defense stated that the survey team was sent to assess the situation in the Hormuz region, clarifying that this investigation is not a precondition for troop deployment. The ministry emphasized that it is not true that the U.S. has set a deadline for the deployment of South Korean assets to the Hormuz Strait.

When asked if there had been any reactions from Iran regarding the possibility of South Korea's troop deployment, the official mentioned, "Iran has inquired about this during our practical discussions, referencing media reports, but we have explained our position to them as well."

The senior official also addressed media reports suggesting that discussions about military contributions, including combat and non-combat missions, had been exaggerated. He clarified, "We are not considering specific combat or non-combat missions; rather, we are discussing the concept that military contributions can take various forms. We are not at a stage where specific plans are being discussed."

The mention of a 'permissive environment' by the French side does not imply that the end of war is a prerequisite for troop deployment. The official explained, "France and the UK use the term 'permissive environment' rather than explicitly stating the end of war. The end of war could be one aspect of a permissive environment."

Regarding the revision of military secrecy agreements and the expedited conclusion of mutual logistics support agreements between South Korea and France, the official stated that these are longstanding issues that have been in preparation for a long time and should not be interpreted as preliminary measures for troop deployment to the Hormuz Strait.