The Cheonghae naval unit’s planned mission will be restricted to open waters south of Oman, a ministry official said, as South Korea seeks to protect citizens and economic interests.
South Korea’s defense ministry announced on 5 November plans to expand the Cheonghae naval unit’s operating area to waters near the Strait of Hormuz. It plans to send maritime patrol aircraft and an explosive ordnance disposal team to help keep the waterway open.
The anti-piracy unit already protects commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia. Shipping through Hormuz has been disrupted by the US-Iran war; the strait normally carries about 20% of the world’s oil.
A defense ministry official said the expansion was intended to protect South Korean citizens and economic interests. The official, who spoke anonymously, said the reinforcement was strictly non-combat and the unit would operate independently of allied forces.
Operations will be limited to open waters south of Oman, the official said. Patrol aircraft will be prohibited from targeting or monitoring Iranian territory, Iranian territorial waters or the interior of the Strait of Hormuz.
Yonhap News Agency, cited by France 24, said the deployment would include a destroyer, a P-8 maritime patrol aircraft and a team to deal with explosive ordnance. It would also include unmanned surface and underwater vessels, as well as remotely operated vehicles for underwater exploration.
The Cheonghae unit’s deployment is authorized until the end of the year. Extending that authorization will require parliamentary approval, Yonhap said.
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