South Korea expands Cheonghae Unit's mission area to waters south of Oman, adds patrol aircraft and minesweeping capability

South Korea's government has decided to increase the forces deployed with the Cheonghae Unit and expand its operational area from the Gulf of Aden off Somalia to the open waters south of Oman. The move comes as allied naval forces have been drawn into the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea amid the US-Iran war, leaving the Gulf of Aden increasingly exposed to piracy.

South Korea's Ministry of National Defense said Thursday that a bill to extend and expand the Cheonghae Unit's deployment had cleared a vice ministerial meeting, posting a statement on its website and the official X account of its spokesperson.

The Defense Ministry said that since the outbreak of the US-Iran war and clashes between Saudi Arabia and Houthi forces earlier this year, allied naval forces had concentrated in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, leaving a shortage of protective maritime assets in the Gulf of Aden. It added that Somali pirate activity had surged more than threefold compared with the previous year and that pirates had been expanding their area of operations.

In response, the Cheonghae Unit will augment its currently deployed destroyer with maritime patrol aircraft and minesweeping support capability. The unit's operational area will extend from the Gulf of Aden to the open waters south of Oman. The Defense Ministry said it would "strengthen anti-piracy operations and take every measure to ensure the safe navigation of vessels."

The ministry also laid out the principles the reinforced unit will follow: it will not participate in or intervene in any war or combat under any circumstances; its sole mission is to protect South Korean nationals and vessels; its area of operations is limited to the Gulf of Aden and the waters south of Oman; and it will operate under an independent chain of command.

The clarification appeared aimed at addressing concerns that expanding the operational area could be perceived as involvement in the Middle East conflict or participation in a specific multinational coalition.

Military authorities said they would maintain an independent command structure free from the direction of other countries' forces, prioritize the safety of personnel and military assets, and keep close communication with Iran and other regional states. Maintaining readiness and capability on the Korean Peninsula will also be factored in, they said. The unit is understood to have no plans to enter the Strait of Hormuz until conditions there become permissive.

The government plans to submit the deployment extension bill to the National Assembly after completing required procedures, including a Cabinet vote.

The Defense Ministry said the Cheonghae Unit would "protect the lives of our citizens and South Korea's economic interests, and make a tangible contribution to the international community's efforts to restore freedom of navigation on global maritime trade routes."