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South Korean Assessment Team to Return from UAE
(MENAFN) A South Korean government delegation dispatched to evaluate security conditions near the Strait of Hormuz is expected to return from the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, as Seoul continues to weigh a possible military deployment under mounting pressure from Washington, according to an updated report from a news agency.
The delegation, made up of officials from the defense and foreign ministries, traveled to the UAE earlier in the week to carry out an on-the-ground assessment of the broader security and operational landscape surrounding the strait.
South Korean media outlets have floated a range of military assets that could potentially be sent, among them the P-8A maritime patrol aircraft, a logistics support vessel and explosive ordnance disposal units — the majority of which fall outside combat roles.
Seoul is reported to have already ruled out sending the naval logistics support ship, since operating it would require deploying more than 100 sailors.
The assessment team is believed to have toured Al Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi — home to a major US military installation in the UAE — to examine operational conditions relevant to a possible P-8A deployment.
The pressure from Washington to commit military assets has created a delicate diplomatic balancing act for South Korea, which has already drawn sharp criticism from Iran over the prospect.
Despite this, Seoul has emphasized that sending the assessment team does not signal that a deployment decision has been made, insisting its sole purpose was to evaluate the security and safety conditions near the strait.
Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations, reaffirmed Thursday that no final decision on deployment has been reached.
"If deployment was not an option, we could have technological assistance," Seong said. "While we can consider combat or noncombat forces in the form of deployment, we could also wisely explore alternatives for contribution."
The delegation, made up of officials from the defense and foreign ministries, traveled to the UAE earlier in the week to carry out an on-the-ground assessment of the broader security and operational landscape surrounding the strait.
South Korean media outlets have floated a range of military assets that could potentially be sent, among them the P-8A maritime patrol aircraft, a logistics support vessel and explosive ordnance disposal units — the majority of which fall outside combat roles.
Seoul is reported to have already ruled out sending the naval logistics support ship, since operating it would require deploying more than 100 sailors.
The assessment team is believed to have toured Al Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi — home to a major US military installation in the UAE — to examine operational conditions relevant to a possible P-8A deployment.
The pressure from Washington to commit military assets has created a delicate diplomatic balancing act for South Korea, which has already drawn sharp criticism from Iran over the prospect.
Despite this, Seoul has emphasized that sending the assessment team does not signal that a deployment decision has been made, insisting its sole purpose was to evaluate the security and safety conditions near the strait.
Seong Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations, reaffirmed Thursday that no final decision on deployment has been reached.
"If deployment was not an option, we could have technological assistance," Seong said. "While we can consider combat or noncombat forces in the form of deployment, we could also wisely explore alternatives for contribution."
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