Seoul: South Korea is prioritizing the safe passage of 24 ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz following a peace agreement between the United States and Iran aimed at ending their longstanding conflict. The deal, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, is set to be formally signed on Friday, potentially reopening the critical waterway.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the hostilities that began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, leaving the 24 vessels, with 137 Korean sailors onboard, stuck in ports across Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The strait's closure significantly impacted South Korea, which relies heavily on it for energy imports.
In response, Seoul has maintained diplomatic channels with Tehran to secure passage through the heavily mined and militarized waterway. This effort has seen some success, as evidenced by the recent passage of the HMM-operated Universal Winner and a liquefied natural gas carrier.
However, the security situation remains uncertain even after the peace deal's signing, with ongoing negotiations and sea mines yet to be cleared. This uncertainty is prompting South Korea to consider a more active role in ensuring navigation freedom, potentially through the U.S.-led Maritime Freedom Construct or a separate mission by France and Britain.
South Korea possesses assets like 12 mine-sweeping vessels and the Cheonghae naval unit, which could be reassigned from their current anti-piracy duties off Somalia to the strait. Such a move would require approval from the National Assembly, as noted by the defense ministry.
The upcoming Group of Seven summit in France will likely address these issues, with President Lee Jae Myung expected to face pressure to clarify South Korea's role in the maritime post-war order. The defense ministry emphasized its active participation in international discussions but has not yet determined an official stance.
"We will review the matter based on international law, waterway safety, our security alliance with the U.S., stability on the Korean Peninsula, and relevant domestic laws," the defense ministry stated.