Chonhae Unit Moves Closer to Hormuz

Mission area to expand to waters 650 km from the Strait of Hormuz
Plans to deploy additional patrol aircraft
Defense Ministry stresses "bolstering anti-piracy capabilities"

The government is moving to expand the Cheonghae Unit’s mission area from the Gulf of Aden to waters south of Oman and to deploy additional assets, including a maritime patrol aircraft and unmanned mine-clearing systems. The move is intended to protect Korean nationals and vessels in response to increased pirate activity, while also preparing for possible participation in future mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz. However, a separate National Assembly approval would be required for any operation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Ministry of National Defense said on November 5 that it plans to submit to the National Assembly a revised motion to extend the unit’s deployment. The motion, which passed a vice-ministerial meeting that day, will be submitted to the Assembly after being approved at a Cabinet meeting next week and receiving presidential approval. The deployment would run from the time the Assembly approves it through the end of next year. The current motion expires at the end of this year.

Since 2009, the Cheonghae Unit has conducted anti-piracy operations and escorted vessels in the Gulf of Aden. It will expand its area of operations to waters off the southern edge of Duqm Port in Oman. The straight-line distance from Duqm Port to the Strait of Hormuz is about 650 km. The Gulf of Oman, which borders the strait, is not included in the expanded area.

The military said that as international naval forces have concentrated on the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, a gap has emerged in anti-piracy operations. A Ministry of National Defense official said that pirate activity "rose from a total of 11 incidents last year to 36 so far this year," adding that "the area of activity is also expanding south of Oman."

The additional assets will include one P-8A maritime patrol aircraft, an explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team, and unmanned underwater vehicles, unmanned surface vehicles, and underwater unmanned exploration vehicles. Personnel will increase by 75, including 30 EOD team members and 45 personnel to operate the patrol aircraft, bringing the total to around 395. The government is pursuing a plan to operate the assets from Djibouti in Africa. The deployment location and timing will be decided after consultations with local authorities following National Assembly approval. The EOD team and unmanned mine-clearing assets are also intended to help personnel adapt to the local operating environment and become proficient in their use. A Ministry of National Defense official explained, "There is very little accumulated knowledge of our equipment or experience using it," adding, "Even as a precautionary measure, we need to deploy an EOD team or those capabilities." The motion also adds a mission to "support the restoration of freedom of navigation along international sea lanes."

The Ministry of National Defense stressed that the primary purpose of this reinforcement is to bolster the Cheonghae Unit’s ability to counter piracy. An end to hostilities and other "permissive conditions" would be prerequisites for any future participation in operations in the Strait of Hormuz. This means that an operation to ensure freedom of navigation must become possible, for example, through an end to hostilities between the United States and Iran or the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU). A Ministry of National Defense official said, "We won't go just because the U.S. asks us to," adding, "When the time comes, we will submit a new deployment motion and then go."

The Cheonghae Unit will maintain its principles of non-involvement in war and protection of Korean nationals and vessels. The patrol aircraft will be restricted from conducting surveillance over Iranian territory and territorial waters, as well as inside the Strait of Hormuz. Command authority will remain with the chairman of South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, and additional assets may be withdrawn early depending on local conditions.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.