South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has ruled out deploying military assets for operations that would involve entering or participating in the Iran war, according to Reuters. Seoul is nevertheless considering limited maritime security measures around the Strait of Hormuz to protect commercial shipping, crude supplies and South Korean citizens. The position follows pressure from US President Donald Trump for greater South Korean support. Security discussions are unfolding alongside negotiations over a proposed US investment package and tariff arrangements between Seoul and Washington.
Lee Jae Myung Rejects Trump Push for South Korea to Join Iran War
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung dismissed the possibility of military deployment that could bring Seoul into the Iran conflict, but he is considering limited maritime security measures.
South Korea-Iran war tensions have been heightened after President Lee Jae Myung refused to bow to pressure from Donald Trump to send troops directly into the conflict.
South Korean action near the Strait of Hormuz, but has left open limited moves aimed at protecting shipping, crude supplies and citizens.
Lee Jae Myung draws a line on military involvement
Reuters reported that Lee said at a news conference Friday that South Korea would not deploy military assets for an operation involving or entering the war.
But he said Seoul was considering whether it should do more to protect navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, where South Korean commercial interests were still vulnerable.
“South Korea already has a naval presence off Somalia to participate in the anti-piracy mission,” Lee said, referring to the country’s broader efforts on maritime security.
He said Seoul, like other countries, needed to take minimum measures to protect commercial shipping, crude shipments and South Korean citizens amid regional instability.
South Korea’s position comes after Trump repeatedly criticised South Korea for not providing sufficient support for the US war against Iran and for seeking more help.
Washington also scaled back large-scale joint military exercises with South Korean forces over the summer, a decision that unsettled the longtime US ally amid wider security tensions.
Seoul had been considering a possible military deployment to the Strait of Hormuz, but the proposal has faced domestic opposition and been politically sensitive in South Korea.
Strait of Hormuz remains central to Seoul’s calculations
The waterway is a strategic artery for global energy trade, so protecting commercial vessels is a major concern for countries whose economies depend heavily on oil imports.
Washington negotiated the implementation of a substantial investment commitment linked to their bilateral trade agreement and tariff arrangements.
Under the deal, South Korea committed $350 billion to US manufacturing, and Washington pledged to reduce tariffs on Korean imports to 15%.
The main sticking point in the negotiations was the commercial viability of the proposed package of investments, Lee said, with some elements still difficult for Seoul to accept.
But those concerns exist, Lee said, and the United States and South Korea are working toward an agreement, with Seoul postponing a parliamentary briefing on the investment plans until next week.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun has also joined talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as both governments work through investment and security issues.
The investment package has added another dimension to already thorny relations between Seoul and Washington, on top of disagreements over South Korean military support for regional operations.
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Trump-Kim Jong-un meeting remains possible
Lee also mentioned North Korea and said a meeting between Mr Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could happen in the coming months.
Lee said such a summit would require a number of conditions to be met, but confirmed his support for ongoing coordination to create an opportunity for dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang.
Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to meet with Kim, and the Wall Street Journal has reported he has been pressing aides to arrange a meeting as early as the autumn.
Trump has repeatedly invited North Korea to talks, and Pyongyang’s state media has said little in response, leaving the door open for another Trump-Kim summit as diplomatic talks continue.
For South Korea, the immediate challenge is to balance its alliance with Washington against domestic opposition to military involvement, but also to protect trade, energy supplies and citizens abroad.
Sprouts News will continue to track developments in South Korea, the United States, Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, talks on investment and possible diplomatic contacts between the US and North Korea.
