New US Defense Secretary Mark Esper reportedly called on the ROK government to dispatch troops on the need for "freedom of navigation" in the Middle East Hormuz Strait.

In a meeting with Defense Minister Chung Kyung-du, Defense Minister Esper emphasized the importance of the Middle East and the need for freedom of navigation in the Hormuz Straits, according to defense officials.

In response, Chung said, "Korea is also aware of the importance of the Strait of Hormuz, and Koreans and ships are using the strait, so we are considering various alternatives."

The Pentagon said it wasn't an official and explicit request for dispatch, but if the US talked about the need for dispatch through official high-level channels between the two countries, it would actually be an official request.

Recently, Secretary of State Mike Pompey publicly mentioned Korea's participation in the Hormuz escort alliance.

Secretary Pompey told a press conference after meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense on Sunday (Foreign Time), saying, "As Japan and Korea have interests and goods, services and energy It is very important for countries to participate in ways that protect the interests of their economies. ”

The Pentagon is said to have been investigating the introduction of the Blue Sea Units, which are currently dispatched to the Gulf of Aden, Somalia, in preparation for the possibility of an official US request for dispatch.

Defense Minister Chung Kyung-Doo told the National Assembly's Defense Committee on the 5th that the possibility of participating in the Hormuz Strait Alliance was "a possibility that the ship could be harmed, so it could be considered on its own."

The agreement to extend the dispatch of Cheonghae troops passed by the National Assembly last year stated that the number of dispatched personnel was less than 320, and that the dispatching force was `` one destroyer of more than 4,000t class ''. No defense decision.

(yunhap news)