SEOUL REINFORCES ITS NAVAL PRESENCE NEAR THE STREET OF HORMUY

South Korea plans to extend its naval operations to the waters near the Strait of Hormuz to secure maritime traffic and protect its energy supplies. The deployment will include a maritime patrol aircraft, a mine-clearing team, and 75 additional military personnel. Seoul insists, however, that the mission is strictly defensive and rules out any direct participation in the war between the United States and Iran. The deployment still requires parliamentary approval.