South Korea proposes expanding naval patrol zone by 1,200 miles
Defense officials say the Cheonghae unit will extend its reach to waters off Oman, adding aircraft and personnel while maintaining independent command.
By Dominic Foster ·
South Korea plans to extend its anti-piracy naval patrols from the Gulf of Aden to waters near the port of Duqm in Oman. The Ministry of National Defense announced the move on Thursday, responding to United States pressure for support in the conflict with Iran. The proposed area of operations sits approximately 650 kilometers from the Strait of Hormuz.
The government will request the National Assembly to extend the mandate of the Cheonghae unit. The current naval task force mandate expires at the end of 2026. Cabinet approval is expected next week before the motion proceeds to lawmakers. This expansion would roughly double the unit's operating radius to 1,930 kilometers, moving it northeast into the Arabian Sea south of Oman.
The Cheonghae unit has protected commercial shipping in the Gulf of Aden since 2009. The latest contingent departed Busan on October 2 aboard the Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin. This 4,400-tonne destroyer carries a maritime helicopter and approximately 300 service members. Under the new proposal, the unit will add 75 personnel, including a bomb disposal team, and a P-8A maritime patrol aircraft.
Officials described the mission as strictly noncombat. The unit will remain under South Korean command and operate independently of allied forces. A defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the goal is to protect citizens and safeguard economic interests. The official added that operations will stay restricted to open waters south of Oman.
The P-8A aircraft will be prohibited from targeting or monitoring Iranian territory, territorial waters, or the interior of the Strait of Hormuz. This restriction aims to limit the unit's engagement with the conflict zone. The proposal follows remarks by US President Donald Trump urging Seoul to support Washington's war efforts. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung pledged in April to help safeguard shipping during talks led by the United Kingdom and France.
In September, President Lee Jae Myung stated he would avoid deployments that could draw South Korea into the war. Opposition lawmakers have contested the expansion, arguing it functions as a troop deployment. Kim Joon-hyung, floor leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, called the move a deceptive workaround at a news conference in Seoul on Wednesday.
Kim Joon-hyung warned that an expanded mission could expose South Korean forces to Iranian retaliation. He argued that if the United States highlights South Korea as the first country to dispatch troops, South Korea would become the first to join the Middle East war.
