Yi Whan-woo is a Korea Times journalist primarily covering finance. He writes in-depth articles on macroeconomy and financial markets and previously covered sports, politics, diplomacy and inter-Korean affairs, among others. Feel free to contact him at yistory@koreatimes.co.kr.
Seoul in dilemma over Hormuz dispatch
Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, right, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper pose before their talks at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Friday. / Yonhap
By Yi Whan-woo
By Yi Whan-woo
Korea is under pressure over whether to join the U.S.-led coalition to patrol the Strait of Hormuz or decline the U.S. request to do so in favor of Iran.
Seoul's dilemma comes amid tension between Iran and the West, with the former threatening to close the narrow strait in protest of U.S. sanctions.
The strait off Iran is the gateway for a third of all crude oil carried by tankers. Tension heightened recently after the U.S. downed an Iranian drone in the strait and Tehran seized two British tankers.
According to diplomatic sources, Sunday, Seoul is trying to decide between its decades-long security alliance with the U.S. and its economic partnership with Iran, including crude oil imports.
On Friday, during his visit to Seoul, U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper officially asked Korea to participate in the U.S.-led coalition.
On Saturday, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Sayyed Abbas Moussawi urged Korea “to remain neutral.”
He told Yonhap News Agency that Seoul had been a cooperative economic partner and asked it to take account the sensitivity of the issue.
“Korea's possible joining of the coalition is a not good signal for us and it will make things complicated,” he said.
Against this backdrop, an analyst said the government should “take sides with the U.S.”
“Diplomacy is not about being lauded by all countries. You often have to choose one country over the other even if it means soured ties with the latter,” said Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University. “Now is when we should choose the U.S. over Iran, given that the security situation on the Korean Peninsula is changing rapidly and we need to maintain a rock-solid alliance.”
Esper has also asked Japan to join the U.S.-led coalition.
Diplomatic sources said Tokyo may send ships to patrol off Yemen instead of taking part in the coalition in the disputed strait.