South Korea is considering expanding its military operations in the Middle East amid pressure from US President Donald Trump to support the war against Iran, the Kyunghyang Shinmun newspaper reported on Thursday.
The report said Seoul was weighing an expansion of the operational area of its Cheonghae anti-piracy unit, currently deployed in the Gulf of Aden, to include the Gulf of Oman, which connects to the Strait of Hormuz.
The administration of President Lee Jae Myung is also considering sending a frigate to the region to reinforce operations, the newspaper reported.
South Korea’s Defence Ministry told Reuters that the government was reviewing whether to seek parliamentary approval to extend the unit’s mission, which is due to expire on Dec. 31, 2026. However, it said no decision had been made on the details of any extension.
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The ministry also noted that pirate activity in the Gulf of Aden had increased sharply compared with a year ago.
According to South Korean broadcaster YTN, the Cheonghae unit comprises a 4,400-tonne destroyer, a maritime operations helicopter, up to three rigid-hull inflatable boats and about 300 personnel.
Trump has criticised Seoul for what he described as insufficient support for the war against Iran and scaled back major joint military drills between the two countries this summer.
South Korean President Lee said on Sept. 18 that his country would not deploy military assets in a way that could draw it into the conflict. However, he said Seoul was considering a greater role in protecting maritime navigation in the region.
