Seoul: The presidential office announced on Friday that no final decision has been made regarding the deployment of military forces to the Strait of Hormuz, with a comprehensive review still in progress.

According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea may consider contributing military support to international efforts ensuring free navigation through the strait. Such contributions would only proceed if they do not compromise South Korea's defense readiness. This statement follows media reports suggesting the government is considering seeking parliamentary approval to dispatch military forces, including a combat support ship, to the region.

U.S. President Donald Trump has recently increased pressure on Seoul to contribute militarily to the critical waterway, accusing South Korea of declining his requests. An anonymous presidential official stated that any contributions must first consider South Korea's readiness on the Korean Peninsula and comply with local legal procedures. The official emphasized that discussions have not progressed to the point of seeking parliamentary approval, and no final decision has been reached.

The official also addressed speculation that the Hormuz deployment issue has disrupted ongoing negotiations between Seoul and Washington concerning their economic and defense agreement from last year, which was part of a broader tariff deal. Though acknowledging challenges in the bilateral negotiations, the official noted that discussions also include matters related to semiconductors.

Earlier this week, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick mentioned that the Trump administration is working on a "targeted" and "thoughtful" tariff policy concerning semiconductors, highlighting the complexity of the ongoing negotiations.