South Korea’s defence ministry said it will ask the National Assembly to approve an expansion of the Cheonghae anti‑piracy unit’s operational area to waters within roughly 650 km (about 403 miles) of the Strait of Hormuz, near the Omani port of Duqm.
The Cheonghae unit, which has been deployed to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden and surrounding seas, would therefore be able to operate much closer to the strategically important strait that channels a large share of the world’s oil shipments.
The move comes after criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who urged South Korea to provide support for his campaign against Iran. Seoul’s decision to broaden the unit’s reach is being presented as a response to that pressure.
To implement the change, the government will submit a motion to parliament. The proposal must also receive the endorsement of President Lee Jae‑Myung and the cabinet before the unit’s new area of operation can be authorised.
The Strait of Hormuz, linking the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea, is one of the world’s most vital maritime chokepoints, through which a significant portion of global oil trade passes. Enhancing South Korea’s naval presence near the strait is intended to bolster anti‑piracy capabilities in a region of high commercial traffic.
<small>Source: The Guardian — read the original story there.</small>
