South Korea weighs phased role in Hormuz mission after US talks, Defence Minister says

SEOUL – South Korea is reviewing a phased contribution to efforts to ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back said on May 13, signalling support steps short of military participation, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Mr Ahn told a press conference with South Korean media correspondents in Washington that he had conveyed Seoul’s position at a meeting with US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth on May 11.

“We said at about this level that, fundamentally, we will participate as a responsible member of the international community and that we will review ways to contribute in a phased manner,” Mr Ahn said in comments confirmed by Seoul’s ministry.

Mr Ahn said possible forms of phased support could include expressions of political support, personnel dispatches, information sharing and the provision of military assets, while stressing that no detailed discussions had taken place on expanding South Korean troop involvement.

“There was no deep discussion on something like specifically expanding our military’s participation,” he said, adding that any decisions would need to follow domestic legal procedures.

Mr Wi Sung-lac, South Korea’s presidential national security adviser, said at a roundtable with reporters on May 13 that Seoul is reviewing whether to join the US-led Maritime Freedom Construct to help safeguard the Strait of Hormuz.

Attack on South Korean ship

The meeting between South Korean and US defence chiefs came a day after Seoul denounced an attack on a South Korean-flagged vessel near the Strait of Hormuz last week.

South Korea’s presidential office strongly condemned the incident but said it was still investigating responsibility for the attack.

Mr Ahn said he discussed the attack on the cargo ship with US officials, adding that Seoul would decide on any response only after the probe was complete.

At the meeting on May 11, Mr Hegseth said Washington expected allies to “stand shoulder to shoulder” amid rising global threats, citing US President Donald Trump’s authorisation of what he called Operation Epic Fury as evidence of the administration’s resolve.

He praised Seoul’s plans to increase defence spending and assume greater responsibility for the security of the Korean peninsula, calling it an example of alliance burden sharing.

Mr Ahn told reporters that Mr Hegseth expressed understanding over South Korea’s position on a conditions-based transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States, and the goal of completing the transition at an early date.

Washington had a “slightly different view” on the OPCON transfer process, Mr Ahn said, adding that Seoul would continue efforts to persuade the US.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s administration has signalled that it aims to finalise the ‌process ⁠during his term, which runs through to 2030, once the country meets a set of military capability conditions agreed with Washington.

Mr Ahn also said the two sides exchanged views on other alliance issues, including plans to build nuclear-powered submarines.

He said there had been no discussion during the talks about a reduction in US forces stationed in South Korea or about the strategic flexibility of US troops stationed in the country. REUTERS