Arya News - The clarification came after local daily Dong-A Ilbo reported earlier Wednesday that the Trump administration had recently asked South Korea to contribute assets, including a warship, amid renewed hostilities with Iran.
SEOUL – South Korea’s presidential office said Wednesday that the United States had made no new request for Seoul to deploy a warship to the Strait of Hormuz, while reaffirming its commitment to make a “substantive contribution” to ensuring freedom of navigation through the waterway.
The clarification came after local daily Dong-A Ilbo reported earlier Wednesday that the Trump administration had recently asked South Korea to contribute assets, including a warship, amid renewed hostilities with Iran.
The US has conducted daily strikes against Iran since July 8 in what it says is retaliation for Tehran’s attacks on commercial vessels in and near the Strait of Hormuz. The attacks have essentially shattered the tenuous ceasefire agreement reached between the two countries in June.
“Have we received any new request from the United States recently? No, we have not,” National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac clarified during a press briefing.
Wi, however, said South Korea remained committed to contributing to the security of passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital conduit for global energy supplies and one of particular importance to Korea, as the waterway’s security directly affects the country’s national interests.
“Whenever there have been international efforts toward solidarity, we have approached the discussions with the position that this is not someone else’s problem but an issue directly tied to our national interests, and that we will always participate and actively make a substantive contribution,” Wi said.
“Although the US has made no specific request for a warship or any particular form of assistance, we have been reviewing various options because we have consistently approached the matter with the intention of making a substantive contribution.”
Wi added that the Korean government was comprehensively examining the legal and policy implications, including procedures required under domestic law. The Navy’s limited capabilities were also among the factors under consideration, he said.
“We intend to make every effort we can within the limits of our capabilities,” Wi said.
Wi further explained that Washington had long sought to organize an international coalition to safeguard passage through the Strait of Hormuz and that Seoul had responded positively to requests to participate.
“There has been no new development beyond that,” Wi added.
South Korea has been reviewing a possible role in international efforts to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, including the US-proposed Maritime Freedom Construct.
Seoul has already joined the Multinational Military Mission, a UK- and France-led defensive naval coalition aimed at securing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as related efforts at the United Nations Security Council.
In April, President Lee Jae Myung also pledged to make a “tangible contribution” to ensuring safe passage through the strait during a multilateral summit chaired by the leaders of Britain and France.
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back further said during a visit to the US in May that he had told US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that Seoul would review possible contributions in phases to help ensure freedom of navigation through the strait.
Speaking at the briefing, Wi also dismissed concerns that pending bilateral issues could delay security consultations with Washington, as had previously occurred amid tensions over the Korean government’s investigation into a massive data breach at US-listed e-commerce giant Coupang.
“Although there are several pending issues between Korea and the US, there are no indications that security consultations are being held up by them,” Wi said. “There may have been such instances in the past, but that is not the case now.”
The consultations include follow-up talks on commitments outlined in the bilateral Joint Fact Sheet agreed upon in November 2025, including South Korea’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines and expanded rights to enrich uranium and reprocess spent nuclear fuel for peaceful purposes.
Wi said discussions were also underway on South Korea’s $350 billion investment package for the US as part of the Joint Fact Sheet follow-up.
“Discussions on investment issues are also underway,” Wi said. “While there may be no tangible outcome to point to at this stage, efforts are being made to produce concrete results.”