hankyoreh

The Cheonghae Unit’s Kang Gam Chan destroyer. (Yonhap News)

The South Korean has apparently resolved to deploy military forces to the Strait of Hormuz while keeping them separate from an American-led security initiative there, the Hankyoreh learned on Jan. 19. The move will likely mean expanding the operational scope of the Cheonghae Unit — which currently patrols waters off the shore of Somalia — to include the area around the Strait of Hormuz, with the purpose of defending South Korean citizens and corporations.

Seoul’s plan to make an independent deployment can be seen as a middle road, taking into account both South Korea’s alliance with the US and its relationship with Iran. In his New Year’s press conference on Jan. 14, Moon explained that the proposed Hormuz deployment was tied to several complicated issues and promised to find a practical approach. Prior to announcing this independent deployment, Seoul will reportedly be explaining the details of its decision to Iran.

There are hints that Seoul was leaning toward an independent deployment in a summary of a meeting of the Blue House National Security Council (NSC) standing committee on Jan. 16. In an earlier meeting, on Jan. 9, the NSC had said it had “also reviewed ways to cooperate closely with the international community in the Middle East,” but the Jan. 16 summary only mentioned reviewing “ways to protect the lives and assets of citizens and companies and to secure safe and free navigation for ships.”

“It’s notable that the phrase about cooperating with the international community was omitted. What I’m told is that the government has basically settled on an independent deployment,” said a senior official in the government.

The South Korean military is also reportedly waiting for the final decision from the Blue House. “On the technical level, the method of deployment has basically already been decided. We just need the higher-ups to make the call,” said a military source. While the new operational scope of the Cheonghae Unit hasn’t been confirmed, it’s not expected to include dangerous areas, considering that the unit won’t be joining the US-led coalition. When Japan resolved to make an independent deployment, it excluded the Strait of Hormuz from its area of operations.

Some observers think Seoul expects its deployment decision will nudge the US to cooperate with President Moon Jae-in’s plan to improve inter-Korean cooperation while also underlining South Korea’s alliance contributions in ongoing negotiations about defense cost-sharing. Domestically, South Koreans are expected to debate whether making the deployment at the Americans’ request was justified and whether the National Assembly must first ratify changes to the Cheonghae Unit’s mission and operational scope.

By Yoo Kang-moon, senior staff writer, and Noh Ji-won, staff reporter

Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]