Seoul: The presidential office announced on Friday that no definitive decision has been made regarding the deployment of military forces to the Strait of Hormuz, as an extensive review is still ongoing.

According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea is considering the possibility of contributing militarily to international efforts aimed at ensuring free navigation through the strategic waterway. However, any such contributions would be contingent upon not compromising the nation's defense readiness. A presidential official, speaking on condition of anonymity, indicated that the government is exploring various options but has not yet reached a stage where parliamentary approval is being sought for the potential deployment, which could include a combat support ship.

The discourse follows reports suggesting that the government is preparing to request parliamentary consent for such a military dispatch. This comes amid increasing pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has expressed dissatisfaction with South Korea's response to his requests for military contributions to the strait, a critical passage for global oil shipments.

The anonymous official emphasized that any tangible contributions to the Strait of Hormuz would need to be balanced with South Korea's readiness posture on the Korean Peninsula and adhere to local legal procedures. The official also noted that the scope of potential contributions could extend beyond combat forces to include noncombatant and search forces, reflecting a comprehensive review of all possible options.

Moreover, the official addressed concerns that the deployment issue might affect ongoing negotiations between Seoul and Washington aimed at advancing their economic and defense agreements, which were part of a broader tariff deal last year. While acknowledging that bilateral talks are not proceeding smoothly, the official highlighted that semiconductor-related issues are also part of the discussions.

Earlier in the week, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick mentioned the Trump administration's efforts to formulate a "targeted" and "thoughtful" tariff policy concerning semiconductors, indicating the broader context of the negotiations.