South Korea rules out Middle East deployment that could draw it into war

Seoul, South Korea. President Lee Jae Myung said on Friday that South Korea would not deploy military assets to the Middle East in a way that could draw the country into war, while the government reviews a possible greater role in protecting navigation in the region.

Lee said South Korea must take minimum measures, as other countries do, to protect commercial shipping, crude shipments and its citizens.

Maritime security review

South Korea has maintained a naval presence off Somalia as part of an anti-piracy mission. However, it has resisted calls from US President Donald Trump to take a more active military role in supporting Washington over the war in Iran.

“There won’t be deployment that would involve or enter war. I can tell you that very clearly,” Lee said at a news conference. “We won’t deploy military assets in any form to that end.”

The government has been reviewing a possible military deployment to the Strait of Hormuz, although the proposal has proved unpopular domestically.

Trump has criticised Seoul for what he described as insufficient support for the Iran war and scaled back major joint military drills involving the two countries’ armed forces this summer, a move that unsettled the US ally.

US investment commitments

Asked about progress on an agreement with the United States concerning Seoul’s investment commitments under its trade deal with Washington, Lee said concerns about the commercial viability of the package remained the main obstacle.

He said some elements were difficult for Seoul to accept, but that the two sides were nearing an agreement.

South Korea committed last year to invest $350 billion in US manufacturing in exchange for Washington lowering tariffs on Korean imports to 15 per cent.

Seoul postponed a parliamentary briefing on the investment plans this week. The briefing is now expected to take place next week.