Cheong Wa Dae: "Lee Jae Myung Did Not Reject Trump's Request for Cooperation on the Middle East; Reviewing Ways to Contribute Without Involvement in War"

[Financial News]  Cheong Wa Dae said on the 19th, regarding foreign media reports that President Lee Jae Myung had rejected President Donald Trump's request for South Korea's cooperation on the Middle East, "That is not the case."
A Cheong Wa Dae official explained that day, "At yesterday's (18th) press conference, President Lee did not reject President Trump's request for South Korea's cooperation concerning the Middle East."
Earlier, NYT reported on President Lee's remarks at the previous day's press conference, saying that he had stated South Korea would not send troops to Iran. It also described this as 'Rejecting Trump.'
The Cheong Wa Dae official said, "The government has been reviewing practical ways to contribute to protecting the people and safeguarding the national interest through close communication with the international community, including the United States."
The official also emphasized, "The government will continue reviewing specific ways to contribute based on its principled position of not becoming involved in war or combat."
At the previous day's press conference, President Lee answered a question about the deployment to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most pressing current issues, saying, "There will be no deployment involving participation in or intervention in war."
President Lee said, "It is clear that we must, as other countries do, carry out at least the minimum activities needed to protect our own merchant ships, oil transportation routes, and the lives and safety of our people." He added, "However, I think our people are concerned because there is a possibility that these activities could become mixed up if the boundary is unclear in any way."
He continued, "As you know, the Cheonghae Unit has already been deployed, and the military is preparing for and responding to threats to the safety of our people on shipping routes, including threats from pirates." He added, "It is also true that we are reviewing and carefully considering ways to strengthen this. However, this is not a deployment to participate in, become involved in, or support a war."
He also said, "It seems some of you are concerned that sending combat troops could mean assigning our service members under a foreign military commander and putting them in danger. Let me state clearly once again: there will be no deployment for war." He added, "The principle of non-involvement and non-intervention in war has been upheld to date and will continue to be upheld."
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