Defense ministry confirms Hormuz assessment mission, denies US set Nov. deadline
The defense ministry confirmed Tuesday that it sent a team to the Middle East to assess conditions around the Strait of Hormuz, but denied reports that the United States had asked Korea to deploy military assets there by November. The ministry emphasized that the team’s mission was to assess the regional situation and security conditions and was not conducted on the assumption that Korean forces…
The Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday that it had dispatched a team to the Middle East to evaluate conditions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, but denied rumors that the United States had requested Korea to deploy military resources there by November. The ministry clarified that the team's objective was to evaluate the regional situation and security conditions, and that it was not carried out with the assumption that Korean forces would eventually be deployed.
"The assertion that the U.S. demanded the deployment of our assets to the Strait of Hormuz by a specific deadline is false," the ministry declared in a statement. It further added that no decision has been made concerning a potential deployment. A high-ranking military source also voiced skepticism about the likelihood of Korean forces being sent to the region as early as November.
"The likelihood of a deployment in November seems to be very low," the source told The Korea Times. "It is challenging to confirm an exact date at this stage." The ministry's statement emerged amidst mounting speculation regarding when and how Korea might contribute to global initiatives aimed at preserving freedom in the region.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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