South Korea Plans to Expand Cheonghae Unit Mission Area to Southern Oman Near Strait of Hormuz

South Korea's Ministry of Defense said on November 5 it plans to ask parliament to extend the Cheonghae unit deployment, expanding its mission area from the Gulf of Aden to southern Oman near Duqm Port, about 650 kilometers from the Strait of Hormuz, and to add a P-8A patrol aircraft, unmanned mine-clearing equipment and 75 personnel, bringing total strength to 395. Citing deployment gaps from the Saudi-Yemen Houthi conflict and rising piracy, Seoul said the unit will observe four principles including no combat role and independent command. The plan still needs state council review, presidential approval and National Assembly consent.