Report: South Korea is considering expanding its military mission in the Middle East

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The Kyunghyang newspaper reported that South Korea is considering expanding the scope of its military operations in the Middle East, at a time when the US-allied country faces pressure from President Donald Trump to provide support for the war in Iran.

The newspaper said, without mentioning its sources, that Seoul is considering expanding the scope of operations of the Chunghae anti-piracy unit, sent to the Gulf of Aden in 2009, to include the Gulf of Oman leading to the Strait of Hormuz.

President Lee Jae-myung's administration plans to submit a proposal to Parliament to extend the unit's mission, which is scheduled to expire at the end of this year, the report said.

The newspaper added that the government is also considering sending a frigate to the region to enhance operations.

The South Korean Ministry of Defense said in a statement to Reuters that the government is studying the possibility of submitting a proposal to Parliament regarding extending the unit’s mission before its end on December 31, 2026.

The ministry said that no decision has yet been made on the details of extending the operations of the anti-piracy unit.

The statement indicated that the situation in the Gulf of Aden is deteriorating, with a sharp increase in pirate activities compared to last year.

The Chunghee unit currently includes a 4,400-ton destroyer, a maritime operations helicopter, up to three rigid-hull inflatable boats, and about 300 armed forces personnel, according to YTN.

Trump criticized Seoul for what he described as insufficient support for the war against Iran, and reduced major joint military exercises between the two countries this summer, a move that alarmed the Asian country.

President Lee said on September 18 that he would not deploy military assets in the Middle East in a way that might drag the country into conflict, but noted that Seoul was considering the possibility of playing a greater role in protecting navigation in the region.