🇰🇷🇴🇲 Seoul Reviews Middle East Mission

South Korea is reviewing a broader military role in the Middle East, with Seoul weighing an expansion of the Cheonghae anti-piracy unit from the Gulf of Aden to the Gulf of Oman, according to a report. The Lee Jae Myung administration also plans to submit a motion to Parliament to extend the unit’s mission beyond its Dec 31, 2026 expiry, while a frigate deployment is under consideration.

The Defence Ministry said no decision has been made on the scope of any extension, but confirmed it is reviewing whether to send a parliamentary motion before the current mandate ends. The Cheonghae unit has operated in the Gulf of Aden since 2009, and the review comes as pirate activity there has risen sharply and as US pressure on Seoul has increased over support for the war in Iran.

The unit currently includes a 4,400-ton-class destroyer, a maritime operations helicopter, up to three rigid-hull inflatable boats and about 300 personnel. Any mandate expansion would extend South Korea’s military presence closer to the Strait of Hormuz.

#SouthKorea #Oman

@asianomics