SEOUL: South Korea is reviewing phased contributions to international efforts aimed at ensuring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back said on Wednesday, indicating support measures short of direct military participation, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Speaking after talks in Washington with US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, Ahn said Seoul had conveyed its willingness to contribute “as a responsible member of the international community” while considering support in stages.
According to Ahn, possible measures under review include political backing, personnel dispatches, intelligence-sharing, and the provision of military assets. However, he stressed that there had been no detailed discussions regarding an expansion of South Korean troop deployments.
“There was no deep discussion on specifically expanding our military’s participation,” Ahn said, adding that any future decisions would require domestic legal approval procedures.
The remarks came days after an attack on a South Korean-flagged vessel near the Strait of Hormuz, an incident strongly condemned by Seoul. South Korea’s presidential office said investigations into responsibility for the attack were still ongoing.
During the meeting, Hegseth reportedly urged allies to “stand shoulder-to-shoulder” in response to growing global security threats and pointed to US President Donald Trump’s authorisation of “Operation Epic Fury” as a sign of Washington’s commitment to regional security.
The US defence chief also welcomed South Korea’s plans to increase defence spending and assume greater responsibility for the defence of the Korean Peninsula, describing it as an example of alliance burden-sharing.
Ahn further said the two sides discussed the conditions-based transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States to South Korea, with Washington expressing understanding of Seoul’s position and support for an early transition.
The ministers also exchanged views on broader alliance issues, including plans related to nuclear-powered submarines, Yonhap reported.
Ahn clarified that there were no discussions regarding a reduction of US troops stationed in South Korea or any changes to the strategic flexibility of American forces deployed in the country.