S. Korea Confirms No Official US Request for Mideast Naval Deployment

(MENAFN) South Korea’s defense minister, Ahn Gyu-back, clarified on Tuesday that the country has not been officially asked by the United States to send warships to the Middle East, according to reports.

“The defense ministry has not received an official request,” Ahn stated during a parliamentary session, emphasizing that recent social media posts by U.S. President Donald Trump, which called on allies to dispatch naval forces to protect the Strait of Hormuz, do not amount to a formal demand.

He explained that any decision to deploy forces would require careful consideration of national interests, public safety, and applicable laws, as well as approval from the legislature.

The minister also noted that South Korea’s military would continue to stay alert to potential developments stemming from the ongoing unrest in the Middle East.

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