Seoul — South Korea Won't Send Troops to Support US War on Iran

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Friday his government will not deploy military forces to the Middle East in any way that could pull the country into the United States' war on Iran, closing off weeks of speculation about a possible troop deployment to the Strait of Hormuz. "There won't be deployment that would involve or enter war. I can tell you that very clearly," Lee said at a news conference, according to The Guardian. "We won't deploy military assets in any form to that end."

What exactly did Lee rule out?

Lee's statement rules out sending South Korean forces to join combat operations or any deployment structured to draw Seoul into the conflict. He did not rule out every form of regional presence, saying his government is still reviewing whether South Korea should take on a larger role protecting shipping lanes.

Why was a Hormuz deployment on the table?

South Korea's government had been weighing a possible military deployment to the Strait of Hormuz amid pressure from Washington, the Guardian reported. The idea proved unpopular at home: protesters rallied in Seoul against sending troops to the strait, according to a photo caption accompanying the Reuters dispatch carried by the Guardian.

"There won't be deployment that would involve or enter war. I can tell you that very clearly." — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung

How has Trump pressured Seoul?

Trump has criticized South Korea for what he called insufficient support for the US war effort against Iran, the Guardian reported. This summer, the US scaled back major joint military drills with South Korea's armed forces, a move the Guardian said unsettled the ally. Separately, Trump has called for allied deployment to the Strait of Hormuz, a request that has met what the Guardian described as a muted response from partner nations.

What is South Korea still willing to do?

Lee said Seoul must do "the minimum as other countries do to protect our commercial shipping and crude shipments, and also the safety of our people." South Korea already maintains a naval presence off the coast of Somalia as part of an anti-piracy mission, a precedent officials may point to for any narrower shipping-protection role that stops short of combat deployment.

By the numbers

• $350 billion: The investment in US manufacturing South Korea committed to last year under its trade deal with Washington, per the Guardian.
• 15%: The tariff rate on Korean imports the US agreed to in exchange, down from a higher prior rate.

Lee said the commercial viability of that investment package remains the main sticking point in finalizing details with Washington, though he said the two sides are nearing an agreement. Seoul postponed a parliamentary briefing on the investment plans this week, the Guardian reported.

What to watch next

• Whether Seoul announces a narrower shipping-protection mission near the Strait of Hormuz, short of a combat deployment.
• Whether the US restores the scaled-back joint military drills with South Korea.
• Whether Washington and Seoul finalize terms of the $350 billion investment commitment tied to the 15% tariff rate.
• Any further public statements from Trump on South Korea's level of support for the Iran war.