South Korea is reviewing options for a phased contribution to efforts aimed at ensuring safe maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back said on Wednesday indicating that Seoul is considering support measures short of direct military deployment, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Addressing a press conference with South Korean correspondents in Washington Ahn said he had conveyed Seoul’s position during his meeting with US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth on Monday.
“We stated that as a responsible member of the international community, we will participate at an appropriate level and consider phased ways to contribute,” Ahn said, as reported by Yonhap.
He added that possible contributions under consideration may include diplomatic support, personnel deployment, intelligence sharing, and limited provision of defence assets.
However he clarified that no detailed discussions were held regarding any expansion of South Korea’s military involvement.
“There was no in-depth discussion on expanding our military participation,” he noted, emphasizing that any such decision would be subject to domestic legal and procedural requirements.
The development comes a day after Seoul strongly condemned an attack on a South Korean-flagged vessel near the Strait of Hormuz. Authorities said investigations are ongoing to determine responsibility for the incident.
During the meeting US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth urged allies to “stand shoulder-to-shoulder” in response to escalating global security challenges, citing President Donald Trump’s authorisation of Operation Epic Fury as evidence of Washington’s commitment to deterrence.
He also praised South Korea’s plans to increase defence spending and assume greater responsibility for regional security, describing it as a model of alliance burden-sharing.
Separately, Ahn stated that Hegseth expressed support for South Korea’s conditions-based approach to transferring wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States, with both sides aiming to complete the transition in a timely manner.
According to Yonhap, discussions also covered broader alliance cooperation, including the potential development of nuclear-powered submarines.
Ahn further confirmed that there was no discussion regarding a reduction in US forces stationed in South Korea or any changes to the strategic flexibility of American troops deployed in the region.
