South Korea is considering a gradual contribution to initiatives aimed at maintaining safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back said Wednesday, indicating Seoul may back the efforts without directly joining military operations.
Speaking at a press briefing with South Korean journalists in Washington, Ahn said he shared Seoul’s stance during talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday.
Ahn said possible forms of phased support could include expressions of political support, personnel dispatches, information-sharing and the provision of military assets, while stressing that no detailed discussions had taken place on expanding South Korean troop involvement.
Wi Sung-lac, South Korea’s presidential national security adviser, said at a roundtable with reporters on Wednesday that Seoul is reviewing whether to join the U.S.-led Maritime Freedom Construct to help safeguard the Strait of Hormuz.
Attack On South Korean Ship
The meeting between South Korean and U.S. defense chiefs came a day after Seoul denounced an attack on a South Korean-flagged vessel near the Strait of Hormuz last week.
South Korea’s presidential office strongly condemned the incident, but said it was still investigating responsibility for the attack.
Ahn said he discussed the attack on the cargo ship with U.S. officials, adding that Seoul would decide on any response only after the probe was complete.
Trump praised Seoul’s plans to increase defense spending and assume greater responsibility for the security of the Korean Peninsula, calling it an example of alliance burden-sharing.
Ahn told reporters Hegseth expressed understanding over South Korea’s position on a conditions-based transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States, and the goal of completing the transition at an early date.
Washington had a “slightly different view” on the OPCON transfer process, Ahn said, adding that Seoul would continue efforts to persuade the United States.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s administration has signaled it aims to finalise the process during his term, which runs through to 2030, once the country meets a set of military capability conditions agreed with Washington.
Ahn also said that the two sides exchanged views on other alliance issues including plans to build nuclear-powered submarines.
He said there had been no discussion during the talks about a reduction in U.S. forces stationed in South Korea or about the strategic flexibility of U.S. troops stationed in the country.
(With inputs from Reuters)
