Seoul to review 'phased' contributions to U.S. initiative in Hormuz: Defense chief

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Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, on the right, walks to a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon, Washington, on May 11. [MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE]
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, on the right, walks to a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon, Washington, on May 11.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back announced Wednesday he has told his U.S. counterpart that Seoul will review making phased contributions to the U.S. initiative in the Strait of Hormuz.

Ahn's remark came during talks with his U.S. counterpart, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, earlier this week.

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U.S. President Donald Trump has specifically requested military support from Korea, along with other allies, multiple times since the start of the Iran war in February. On April 6, Trump publicly announced that "Korea did not help us" in a press briefing at the White House.

Trump also referenced the explosion regarding HMM Namu, a Korean cargo vessel that caught fire near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. Trump criticized that the Korean vessel "decided to act alone" and "the ships protected by the United States were not attacked."

BY LEE JI-WON, YONHAP [lee.jiwon10@joongang.co.kr]

iran war defense united states korea ministry of national defense

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