HIBAPRESS
South Korea announced on Sunday that it will carefully study the calls of US President Donald Trump for allies to send warships to secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which was disrupted by Iran.
The South Korean presidential office said in a statement: "We will communicate closely with the United States on this issue, and we will make a decision after carefully considering the matter."
On Saturday, Trump urged other countries to send warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, mentioning South Korea among them.
The American President wrote on his "Truth Social" platform that "Several countries will send warships, in cooperation with the United States, to keep the Strait open and safe."
He continued: "We hope that China, France, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom and other countries will take the initiative to send ships to the region so that the Strait of Hormuz is no longer threatened by a headless state."
Trump later confirmed that "The countries of the world that receive oil through the Strait of Hormuz should take care of this passage, and we will provide significant assistance."
Iranian strikes have caused a near-total halt to maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, through which usually one-fifth of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas pass.
Trump announced on Friday that the US Navy would begin "very soon" escorting oil tankers to cross the vital strait, threatening to target Iranian oil facilities if Tehran continues to obstruct navigation.
