South Korea to Expand Anti-Piracy Operations Near Strait of Hormuz Amid US Pressure

South Korea is planning to extend its anti-piracy patrols from off the coast of Somalia to waters nearer to the Strait of Hormuz, the Ministry of National Defense announced. This move follows pressure from the United States for South Korea to offer support in its efforts concerning Iran. The South Korean government intends to seek parliamentary approval to prolong the mission of the Cheonghae unit, a naval task force whose current mandate is set to conclude at the end of 2026. A spokesperson for the Defence Ministry informed Reuters on Thursday that the request would also broaden the unit’s operational zone to include waters adjacent to the port of Duqm in Oman, situated approximately 650 kilometers (403 miles) from the Strait of Hormuz. The proposal is slated for endorsement by the cabinet next week before being submitted to lawmakers, according to Yonhap news agency.

The Cheonghae unit has been engaged in patrolling the Gulf of Aden since 2009, with the primary objective of safeguarding commercial shipping. The most recent contingent departed from Busan, South Korea, on October 2, aboard the destroyer Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin. This 4,400-tonne vessel is equipped with a maritime helicopter and approximately 300 service members.

Under the proposed expanded mandate, the unit would advance northeast into the Arabian Sea, south of Oman, effectively doubling its operational radius to about 1,930 kilometers (1,200 miles), officials told Yonhap. The reinforcement would include an additional 75 personnel, a bomb disposal team, and a P-8A maritime patrol aircraft to enhance the monitoring of shipping routes. Officials emphasized to Yonhap that the mission would be strictly non-combat in nature and that the unit would remain under South Korean command, operating independently of allied forces.

“The enhancement of the Cheonghae unit’s mission is to protect our citizens and safeguard our economic interests,” a defense official stated, speaking anonymously to Yonhap. “Operations will remain restricted to the open waters south of Oman, and the maritime patrol aircraft will be prohibited from targeting or monitoring Iranian territory, territorial waters or the interior of the Strait of Hormuz during their missions,” the official added.

This proposal comes in the wake of demands from US President Donald Trump for Seoul to bolster Washington's stance regarding Iran. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung had previously pledged in April to assist in safeguarding shipping during discussions led by the United Kingdom and France. However, in September, he indicated an intention to avoid any deployment that could potentially draw South Korea into the conflict.

Opposition lawmakers have voiced concerns regarding the expansion of the Cheonghae unit's mission. Kim Joon-hyung, the floor leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, argued at a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday that “Expanding the Cheonghae unit’s operational area amounts to a troop deployment.” He characterized the move as “not a clever solution but a deceptive workaround.” Kim further cautioned that an expanded mission could expose South Korean forces to retaliation from Iran, despite Seoul’s assurances that its personnel would not engage in combat. “If President Donald Trump boasts that South Korea was the first country in the world to dispatch troops, we would become the first country to join the Middle East war,” he stated.