(LEAD) Presidential office says no decision reached on troop deployment to Hormuz; review ongoing

The presidential office announced on Friday that no final decision has been made regarding the deployment of military forces to the Strait of Hormuz. A review process is currently underway. South Korea may potentially offer military assistance to global initiatives aimed at maintaining free passage through the strait, provided such support does not hinder its own defense capabilities, according to a presidential official.

This disclosure comes in response to reports suggesting that the government is preparing to request parliamentary authorization for a plan that could involve dispatching a combat support ship to the strait.

President Donald Trump has recently intensified his calls for South Korea to provide military contributions to the vital waterway, having publicly criticized the ally for reportedly rejecting his demands. The official emphasized that the potential contributions should be evaluated in the context of South Korea's current readiness status on the Korean Peninsula and in compliance with local legal requirements.

The discussion is still in the preliminary stages and has not progressed beyond considering the possibility of making contributions within certain limits that would not endanger the nation's defensive posture. No decision has been finalized or presented to the parliament.