South Korea weighs Strait of Hormuz deployment options including patrol planes

South Korea is evaluating several non-combat options for a potential military contribution in the Strait of Hormuz, including the dispatch of a maritime patrol aircraft, according to the country's top security official.

Speaking during a parliamentary audit on Thursday, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac indicated that the government in Seoul remains in active talks with Washington to determine how it might participate in regional security efforts. Wi clarified that while aircraft deployment is among the possibilities under review, any combat-oriented mission has been officially excluded.

The restriction against sending combat forces adheres to an earlier stance established by President Lee Jae Myung. South Korean officials are balancing security cooperation with their American allies against the risks of direct military involvement in the volatile waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for international energy supplies, through which a significant portion of the world's crude oil shipments pass. South Korea, which relies heavily on imported oil from the Middle East to fuel its domestic economy, faces continuous pressure to assist international operations aimed at safeguarding navigation routes.

Discussions between South Korean and U.S. defense officials are ongoing as Seoul seeks a solution that fulfills its alliance commitments without escalating tensions or placing its personnel in active hostilities. Wi did not provide a specific timeline for when a final determination regarding the deployment would be announced.