South Korea has sent a team to assess the situation in the Strait of Hormuz after the United States pressured it to increase its role in supporting operations against Iran.
On September 9, 2026, at 10:08 AM, Bloomberg News reported that South Korea had sent a task force to assess the situation in the Strait of Hormuz amid considerations of potentially deploying troops to support operations in the area, following increased US pressure on Seoul to play a greater role in assisting operations against Iran.
South Korea's Defense Ministry said in a statement late Tuesday that the deployment of the team was to assess the political and security situation in the area, emphasizing that the assessment did not necessarily mean a troop deployment would follow.
Earlier, South Korean media reported last week that the Seoul government had begun preparing for the possibility of sending naval support ships to the Strait of Hormuz, following increased pressure on South Korea, a key US ally, for not providing the support Washington demanded for a war with Iran.
The South Korean presidential office confirmed that the deployment of troops is still under consideration and no decision has been made.
Yonhap News Agency reported that a team assessing the situation traveled to the United Arab Emirates over the weekend and will report its findings to South Korea's National Security Council upon their return.
However, the Ministry of Defense declined to confirm the team's operational location, citing security concerns.
South Korea has expressed its readiness to join the European-led efforts to ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy shipping route.
However, the Seoul government remains cautious about drawing the country into direct conflict, even though the protracted war is putting pressure on South Korea's energy security.
If South Korea decides to deploy troops, it would be a significant shift in the Seoul government's stance, following increasing pressure from Trump, who has openly questioned South Korea's role and participation in the U.S. alliance and called on Seoul to provide more assistance to U.S. operations against Iran.
Last month, the United States abruptly scaled down joint military exercises with South Korea after Trump said South Korean President Lee Jae-myung rejected his request for assistance.
Lee Jae-myung said during an official visit to France on Tuesday that South Korea and France agreed to continue cooperating closely to ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and accelerate the restoration of stability in global supply chains.
However, if the South Korean government decides to deploy troops, it must first obtain approval from the South Korean parliament.
Although the ruling Democratic Party holds a majority in parliament, the government may face opposition from within the party itself, as the deployment of troops is likely to be criticized by the party's base, as well as smaller political parties that oppose the deployment of troops to the area.
Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the opposition People's Power Party, stated via social media on Saturday that such actions might become an unappreciated task and be seen as merely a desperate attempt to survive under pressure.
The South Korean government is currently assessing the situation, and the findings from the working group sent to the Middle East will be used by the National Security Council to consider whether or not to increase its role in the Strait of Hormuz.
Reference: www.bloomberg.com
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