White House: “Waiting for South Korea to Commit Resources to the Strait of Hormuz”... Calls for Troop Deployment Gain Traction

[Financial News] The White House said it is still waiting for South Korea to commit resources to the region after the South Korean government said it was considering ways to make a military contribution in the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. Department of War also stressed that it expects its allies to take a more active role in safeguarding freedom of navigation.
A senior White House official said in response to a related question from Voice of America (VOA) on the 4th (local time), “South Korea is one of the major importers of Middle Eastern oil, and we are still waiting for South Korea to commit resources to the region.”
However, the official did not provide specific details on what resources South Korea should commit or on the scale of such a contribution.
The U.S. Department of War also directed questions about specific troop or asset deployments to the South Korean government, while emphasizing the need for active participation by South Korea and other allies.
A Department of War official told VOA, “President Donald Trump has publicly stated that he expects allies to take a more active role in supporting freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”
The Department of War likewise did not provide specific details on the form, scale, or timing of the support requested from South Korea.
Earlier, a senior Cheong Wa Dae official told reporters on the 4th that a meaningful contribution in the Strait of Hormuz could include a military contribution.
Regarding the possibility of sending troops, the official explained, “To make a meaningful contribution in the Strait of Hormuz, we must take into account our readiness posture on the Korean Peninsula,” adding that various options were being considered.
The official explained that military contributions could take various forms, including combat, noncombat, and search operations, but stressed that the matter was still under review and that no decision had been made.
Some South Korean media outlets, citing anonymous sources, reported that the South Korean government was considering sending P-8A maritime patrol aircraft, a military logistics support vessel, and explosive ordnance disposal forces to the Strait of Hormuz.
Earlier, President Donald Trump repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction, directly mentioning South Korea and saying that it was not doing enough to assist the United States on Middle East issues.
In an interview with Fox News on the 30th of last month, President Donald Trump also claimed that he had asked South Korea for support regarding the Iran issue, but that South Korea had indicated it would not get involved.
He added that if allies did not step up for the United States, the United States could not continue helping them unilaterally.
[email protected] Yoon Jae-jun Reporter