South Korea moves to expand Cheonghae naval unit toward waters near the Strait of Hormuz

South Korea announced Thursday plans to expand the operational area of its Cheonghae antipiracy naval unit to international waters south of Oman near the port of Duqm, about 650 kilometers from the Strait of Hormuz, The Korea Herald reports, citing the Defense Ministry.

A revised motion approved at a vice-ministerial meeting would go to the National Assembly after Cabinet approval and presidential endorsement next week. The expansion would roughly double the unit's authorized operational radius to about 1,930 kilometers, the ministry said.

The ministry also plans to deploy a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and an explosive ordnance disposal team, raising the unit's personnel ceiling by 75 to 395, plus uncrewed mine-clearing equipment. Officials said the mission would stay noncombat and under South Korea's own command, and that the aircraft would not monitor Iranian territory or the interior of the strait; any future operations inside the waterway would need separate parliamentary approval.

The proposal comes amid U.S. pressure for Seoul to do more on freedom of navigation near Hormuz. Defense Ministry officials said the aim is to protect South Korean citizens and economic interests and that South Korea would not participate in or intervene in the Iran war.