Yoo Yong-won, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, expressed conditional support for the extension of the Cheonghae Unit's deployment, which passed the Cabinet meeting the previous day. He stated, "I do not fundamentally oppose it, but I believe there are areas that need to be reinforced regarding the safety of our troops, and I plan to discuss this through the National Defense Committee's review."
Speaking on YTN Radio's 'Jang Sung-cheol's News Myungdang' on November 11, Yoo noted, "Our drone and mine countermeasures are insufficient and need enhancement." He emphasized that national interests, the ROK-U.S. alliance, and the safety of soldiers should be the criteria for evaluating the deployment in the Hormuz Strait.
Yoo highlighted concerns about Iran's drone capabilities, stating, "Iran has one of the world's highest levels of drone attack capability, with Iranian drones having a maximum range of over 2,000 kilometers," which raises worries about the new operational area of the Cheonghae Unit falling within range.
He also pointed out that while the expanded operational area of the Cheonghae Unit is approximately 650 kilometers from the Hormuz Strait, there is a need to bolster mine countermeasures due to the possibility of mines drifting with ocean currents.
When asked about the party's official stance on the deployment extension, Yoo replied, "We have not officially discussed this issue, but I think the likelihood of our party actively opposing it is quite low."
Additionally, Yoo predicted that stability in the Middle East would not be achieved in the short term. He remarked, "While there may be political declarations from the U.S. and Iran to work towards peace in the Hormuz Strait, it is unlikely that a stable situation will emerge anytime soon," adding that the Houthi rebels are also escalating threats by showcasing their power.
Speaking on YTN Radio's 'Jang Sung-cheol's News Myungdang' on November 11, Yoo noted, "Our drone and mine countermeasures are insufficient and need enhancement." He emphasized that national interests, the ROK-U.S. alliance, and the safety of soldiers should be the criteria for evaluating the deployment in the Hormuz Strait.
Yoo highlighted concerns about Iran's drone capabilities, stating, "Iran has one of the world's highest levels of drone attack capability, with Iranian drones having a maximum range of over 2,000 kilometers," which raises worries about the new operational area of the Cheonghae Unit falling within range.
He also pointed out that while the expanded operational area of the Cheonghae Unit is approximately 650 kilometers from the Hormuz Strait, there is a need to bolster mine countermeasures due to the possibility of mines drifting with ocean currents.
When asked about the party's official stance on the deployment extension, Yoo replied, "We have not officially discussed this issue, but I think the likelihood of our party actively opposing it is quite low."
Additionally, Yoo predicted that stability in the Middle East would not be achieved in the short term. He remarked, "While there may be political declarations from the U.S. and Iran to work towards peace in the Hormuz Strait, it is unlikely that a stable situation will emerge anytime soon," adding that the Houthi rebels are also escalating threats by showcasing their power.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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