Korea reviews joining US-led Hormuz operation

The Iran-flagged container vessel Hamouna is anchored as a small motorboat passes by in the Strait of Hormuz off southern Iran's Bandar Abbas in this picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency, Saturday. Iran's Revolutionary Guards denied, Monday, that any commercial ships had crossed the strait after the U.S. military earlier said two U.S.-flagged merchant vessels had transited through the vital waterway. AFP-Yonhap

Korea is reviewing whether to join U.S.-led operations to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday, following an explosion at a Korean-operated ship in the strait.

The review comes as the U.S. is increasing pressure on Korea to participate in its operations, claiming the explosion resulted from an Iranian attack. So far Korea has said it is committed to making "practical contributions" to ensuring maritime security in the key waterway.

Cheong Wa Dae said it is reviewing whether to join Washington's “Project Freedom,” aimed at guiding ships safely out of the strait.

"The government holds the principle that safety in international maritime passage and free navigation meets all nations' common interest and should be protected according to international law," the presidential office said in a statement.

"We are reviewing the U.S. proposal about the Strait of Hormuz based on the principle, the military readiness posture on the Korean Peninsula and domestic laws. Regarding Project Freedom, Korea and the U.S. have been communicating closely for safe use of key waterways including the Hormuz Strait," it said.

The statement came after the HMM Namu, one of the Korean vessels stranded in the strait since the U.S.-Israel war against Iran began on Feb. 28, sustained damage from an explosion and fire at 8:40 p.m. Monday (KTS), the day the U.S. launched the project.

Following the incident, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that it was an attack by Iran and urged Korea to join its operations there.

"Iran has taken some shots at unrelated Nations with respect to the Ship Movement, PROJECT FREEDOM, including a South Korean Cargo Ship. Perhaps it's time for South Korea to come and join the mission!" Trump wrote on social media, Monday (local time), without providing evidence that Iran attacked the Korean-operated vessel.

On Tuesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked Korea, along with Europe and other countries, to join the U.S.-led operations.

“We hope South Korea would step up, just like we hope Japan would step up, just like we hope Australia would step up, just like we hope Europe steps up,” Hegseth said in a briefing at the Pentagon. “But we’re not waiting for them to do so.”

It was the latest call from the Trump administration for Korea to join its mission in the strait. In March, he requested five allies, including Korea, to send military vessels to Hormuz but Korea did not commit. Instead, it has participated in multinational discussions for a coalition led by the U.K. and France aimed at reopening the strait. Last week, the U.S. proposed a new initiative called Maritime Freedom Construct, also aimed at safe passage for ships.

Trump has been taking de facto retaliatory measures in the defense and trade sectors against countries critical of the U.S. initiative in the strait. He announced a plan to withdraw at least 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany, following German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s criticism of Trump’s approach to the war. The U.S. also raised tariffs on European cars to 25 percent from 15 percent, which is widely viewed as a retaliatory measure in response to European nations' refusal to join U.S. military operations in the Middle East.

Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University, said if Iran is proven to be behind the incident, it will create a situation where Korea can no longer distance itself from the Middle East conflict.

However, he said Korea is faced with a difficult task in deciding whether to join the U.S.-led mission, as doing so could be viewed as Seoul involving itself in a “military operation,” which could prompt a reaction from Iran.

“Given that Korea is heavily dependent on the strait for oil supplies, and if it is true that Iran attacked the ship, and if Korea continues refusing to join the U.S. operation, the U.S. may make Korea face consequences,” Park said.

He said sending troops will require National Assembly ratification and it will take considerable time to prepare the military. “We could buy time while negotiating with the U.S., or support the U.S. with defensive weapons rather than combat weapons, or provide logistical support,” he added.

Another analyst said the U.S. considers Korea’s potential participation as a gateway to bringing more countries into the operation.

“The U.S. appears to have found an opportunity," Nam Sung-wook, chair professor at Sookmyung University, told local broadcaster YTN. "Washington has been dissatisfied with Korea’s nonparticipation in its freedom of navigation operations despite being an ally. Now that a Korean ship has been damaged, the U.S. seems to be using the incident to argue that it is time for Seoul to join the operation, making Korea a primary target in its efforts to bring allies on board.”