Cheong Wa Dae Says It Is Reviewing U.S. Request to Deploy Forces to the Strait of Hormuz, Taking Domestic Law Into Account

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Cheong Wa Dae said on the 5th that it is reviewing U.S. President Donald Trump's call for South Korea to take part in military operations in connection with the explosion involving a South Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, taking into account the readiness of the Korean Peninsula and domestic legal procedures.
Cheong Wa Dae explained that, based on its position that the safety of international sea lanes and freedom of navigation serve the common interests of all countries and must be protected under International law, it has been actively taking part in various international efforts to quickly stabilize, restore, and normalize the global maritime logistics network. It added that it is also paying close attention to President Trump's remarks and is reviewing the U.S.-proposed measures related to the Strait of Hormuz while considering those principles, the readiness of the Korean Peninsula, and domestic legal procedures.
It also stressed, in connection with the so-called 'Operation Project Freedom' to help merchant ships trapped in the Strait of Hormuz escape, that "South Korea and the United States are maintaining continuous, close communication on the stable use of major sea lanes, including the Strait of Hormuz." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) issued the same position later in the day.
The government plans to move the vessel to a nearby port using a tugboat contracted by the shipping company, then berth it there. It will also immediately dispatch personnel from the Korea Register's Dubai office to conduct a safety inspection. Chief Spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong emphasized that, "To determine the cause more objectively and reliably, investigators from the Central Maritime Safety Tribunal and forensic experts from the National Fire Agency (NFA) will be sent to the site separately from the shipping company's own investigation."
Cheong Wa Dae said the cause analysis is expected to take several days, given the deployment of the tugboat, berthing, the dispatch of domestic investigators, and the time needed for analysis. Chief Spokesperson Kang added, "The government will identify the cause of the accident quickly and accurately, and report it to the public transparently."
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cjk@fnnews.com Choi Jong-geun Reporter