South Korea plans to expand anti-piracy mission - NHKニュース

South Korea plans to enhance its anti-piracy military unit in the Gulf of Aden in the Middle East and expand its area of operations to waters south of Oman facing the Strait of Hormuz.

The South Korean government announced the plan on Thursday. It includes the deployment of a P-8 maritime patrol aircraft and unmanned vessels to be added to a destroyer and other military assets that have been already stationed there.

Defense ministry officials say the expansion is to help ensure freedom of navigation for international shipping. The government plans to seek consent from parliament.

The move comes after Seoul considered a request from the United States to send a military unit to the Strait of Hormuz. But the officials say the expansion plan is not in response to the request, and South Korea will not be involved in the conflict between the US and Iran.

Nevertheless, the officials pointed to the possibility that South Korean forces may be involved in removing mines in the strait if parliament also grants consent for that and if all conditions are met, including the end of US military operations against Iran.

South Korea's planned expansion of the current mission is believed to be aimed at building up its capabilities necessary for a future mission.