▲ Choi Young-ham's mission in 2019
It is known that the government withdrew the Cheonghae unit from the waters near the Strait of Hormuz ahead of negotiations for the release of ships held in Iran.
A diplomatic source said today (18th) that the delegation headed by the first vice minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Choi Jong-gun moved the Cheonghae unit to the waters outside the Hormuz Strait before arriving in Iran on the 10th.
It is explained that putting warships in waters near Iran before negotiations could stimulate Iran, and in fact, it is because the Iranian government has been sensitive to the Qinghai unit.
An official from the Ministry of Defense said, "We cannot confirm the operation of the Cheonghae unit."
The government dispatched Choi Young-ship of the Cheonghae unit, which was located near Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz, shortly after the Korean Chemie was captured on the 4th.
(Photo = Yonhap News)