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| Mourners burn flags of the U.S. and Israel during a funeral ceremony for Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and his comrades, who were killed in Iraq in a U.S. drone strike on Friday, at the Enqelab-e-Eslami (Islamic Revolution) square in Tehran, Iran, Monday. AP-Yonhap |
By Jung Da-min
Korea is facing a dilemma over whether to participate in the U.S.-led naval coalition in the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions in the Middle East escalate in the wake of U.S. military action last week that killed General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Iran's Quds Force, and Iran's consequent vows for "harsh revenge."
Seoul has been considering participating in the maritime mission as a means to strengthen alliance with the U.S. and as a bargaining chip in the defense cost-sharing negotiations with Washington. But the surging tension is raising concerns that the participation would endanger Seoul's relations with Tehran and threaten the safety of Korean residents in the Middle East.
The Ministry of National Defense said on Monday the government is reviewing all possible ways to protect South Korean nationals in the Middle East, but added there is no finalized plan on the possible participation in the U.S.-led coalition in the region.
"The government is closely watching the situations in the Middle East, including the one between the U.S. and Iran. We will closely coordinate with the international community to promptly react to contingencies that could threaten the security of our people," ministry spokeswoman Choi Hyun-soo said during a press briefing.
"Our stance in the Hormuz maritime security initiative is in the same context. We are reviewing various plans to contribute to the protection of our ships and people but there are no finalized plans yet."
The presidential National Security Council (NSC) also discussed the issue by holding an emergency meeting over the changed situations in the region. The meeting was presided over by National Security Office chief, Chung Eui-yong.
"President Moon Jae-in ordered the NSC members to look into not only the security situation there but also Korean residents' safety and oil supply," presidential spokeswoman Ko Min-jung said, adding he ordered Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Sung Yun-mo, who is not a formal member of the NSC, to attend the meeting.
Other relevant ministries held meetings to grasp the situation in the Middle East and discuss relevant issues including the participation in the naval mission in Hormuz.
Since late last year, Seoul has reviewed the possibility of "phased" participation in the Hormuz mission, such as redeploying South Korean Navy's anti-piracy Cheonghae unit from its missions in the Gulf of Aden.
Such a review has come as a possible negotiation card with Washington, as Seoul was mulling over possible ways to reduce the amount it pays for the upkeep of 28,500 members of United States Forces Korea. The U.S. has been requesting its allies and partners to contribute "more" for regional defenses under the country's Indo-Pacific Strategy.
Political watchers said it could add to the conflict between the progressive and the conservative. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea is yet to clearly present its stance on the matter, while the main opposition Liberty Korea Party said participating in the Hormuz mission can be a way to protect South Korean people.
If the government decides to participate in the Hormuz mission, it could also be a political issue whether such a decision would need to go through a separate approval procedure at the National Assembly.
The minor opposition Party for Democracy and Peace on Monday issued a statement opposing the idea of sending Korean troops to the Middle East, citing potential for attacks on Korean residents in the region by pro-Iran armed forces.
