South Korea reviews expanding military mission in Middle East, report says

South Korea is reviewing an expansion of its military operations in the Middle East, the Kyunghyang Shinmun newspaper reported on Oct 15, as the US ally faces pressure from President Donald Trump to provide support for the war in Iran.



Seoul is weighing expanding the operational area of its Cheonghae anti-piracy unit, which was dispatched to the Gulf of Aden in 2009, to include the Gulf of Oman, which links to the Strait of Hormuz, the newspaper said, without naming sources.



The administration of President Lee Jae Myung plans to submit a motion to Parliament to extend the unit’s mission, which is set to expire at the end of 2026, the report said.



The government was also considering sending a frigate to the region to reinforce operations, the paper said.



South Korea's Defence Ministry said in a statement to Reuters that the government was reviewing whether to send a motion to Parliament on an extension of the unit's service before it expires on Dec 31, 2026.