Strait of Hormuz 'Independently Dispatched'…Cheonghae Unit's Operational Area Expanded (CG) [Provided by Yonhap News TV]

With U.S. President Donald Trump effectively demanding that five countries, including South Korea, China, and Japan, dispatch warships to the Strait of Hormuz on the 14th (local time), attention is being paid to the possibility of the Cheonghae Unit, currently operating in the Gulf of Aden, being deployed.

While there is a burden as an ally of the United States, and the stability of the Strait of Hormuz is important for our national interests, it is expected to be a considerable dilemma due to the high operational risks. Additionally, the possibility of requiring parliamentary ratification is also being raised.

Amidst the ongoing war between the United States and Israel against Iran, which has lasted for fifteen days, President Trump requested South Korea, Japan, China, the United Kingdom, and France to send warships to normalize passage of vessels, including oil tankers, through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran is effectively blockading.

Government officials stated that there has not yet been an official request for troop dispatch from the United States.

However, given President Trump's remarks, it is highly probable that a request for warship dispatch will be formalized soon.

The government maintains a stance of thoroughly reviewing any official request, but there is a discernible sentiment that caution is necessary given the highly dangerous nature of the operation and the potential to antagonize Iran.

The controversy surrounding the legality of the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran under international law is also expected to be a factor in considering whether South Korea should become involved in this conflict.

The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial chokepoint through which approximately 20% of the world's crude oil passes, with its narrowest point being only 39 km wide. Iran has been effectively blocking passage by laying mines in the strait, and there have been successive incidents of civilian vessels being attacked.

President Trump himself expressed the dangers of escort operations, stating, "It is easy for them (Iran) to send a drone or two, drop mines, or launch short-range missiles somewhere in this waterway (Strait of Hormuz), no matter how badly they are defeated."

It appears that the U.S. intends to conduct escort operations with a multinational force rather than unilaterally, given the high risk of exposure to various Iranian attacks in the narrow waterway.

Strait of Hormuz [Reuters/Yonhap News]

If the U.S. plan materializes and a dispatch request is made to South Korea, the government is expected to carefully consider the deployment of the Cheonghae Unit.

The Cheonghae Unit, which carries out missions such as anti-piracy and safe navigation support, primarily in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia, began its first dispatch in 2009 under a UN Security Council resolution. Currently, the 47th contingent, aboard the 4,400-ton destroyer ROKS Daejoyong, is undertaking the mission. A total of 262 personnel are deployed.

The Cheonghae Unit has played a vital role in operations such as the "Dawn of Gulf of Aden" operation and the evacuation of South Korean citizens from Libya and Yemen, providing safety support to over 40,000 vessels.

The Cheonghae Unit is currently maintaining a state of readiness for the protection of South Korean citizens in the waters east of Oman. In particular, it is responding to the situation by sharing information on the location and transit of South Korean vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian and Persian Gulf regions with shipping companies.

South Korea has previously dispatched the Cheonghae Unit to the Strait of Hormuz to escort South Korean merchant ships.

During the first term of President Trump, in January 2020, tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalated following the U.S. elimination of Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. At that time, the government expanded the Cheonghae Unit's operational area to include escort missions for South Korean merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Although it was pointed out that a separate parliamentary ratification would be required to operate in the Strait of Hormuz, as the dispatch area specified in the troop dispatch approval bill submitted to the National Assembly was the Gulf of Aden, a clause stating "including the directed area during activities to protect our nationals in emergencies" allowed for operations in the Strait of Hormuz without separate procedures.

However, the military authorities reportedly believe the situation is different this time.

A military official explained that while the operation was "independent" at that time, it is expected to be part of a multinational force this time, fundamentally altering the Cheonghae Unit's mission and potentially requiring separate parliamentary ratification.

A military official stated, "We need to see how neighboring countries like Japan respond, and many considerations will be necessary."