Korea weighs sending minesweepers to help clear Strait of Hormuz after U.S., Iran reach peace deal

With the United States and Iran having struck a cease-fire deal that is set to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the Korean government is weighing whether to deploy naval minesweepers to help clear the waterway, driven by pressure to demonstrate a stronger commitment to Washington as U.S. officials call on allies to join mine-clearing operations.

Multiple government sources said on Sunday that the option of dispatching minesweepers — contingent on a cease-fire and the stabilization of the strait — is under serious internal discussion.

"This ultimately comes down to a question of commitment [to the United States], and sending minesweepers is one of the options [of showing that commitment]," one source said. "It's a matter of choice whether to be fully involved in rebuilding the strait from the outset or to wade in gradually at a lower level."

Iran is believed to have planted sea mines in the strait, per multiple intelligence agencies and naval commands. 

The Korean government had initially explored ways in which to redeploy the destroyer ROKS Wang Geon — currently serving with the overseas antipiracy Cheonghae Unit in the Gulf of Aden — to extend its mission to the Strait of Hormuz. It also kept the possibility of committing forces to mine-clearing operations on the table.

After the cease-fire, mine clearance would be the top priority for restoring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. A senior U.S. official said on Saturday that U.S. President Donald Trump plans to hold separate meetings on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit — for which President Lee Jae Myung is traveling overseas — with the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to discuss ending the war with Iran. The official also said that it would be helpful if G7 nations participated in mine-clearing operations.

The International Energy Agency noted in a report last month that it would take several weeks for navies from the United States, Britain, France and Germany to deploy minesweepers to the area.

The biggest obstacle for any deployment remains the domestic legal procedure. Sending minesweepers would require the government to submit a separate troop dispatch motion to the National Assembly for approval. However, analysts note that pro-dispatch sentiment exists within the opposition, meaning parliamentary approval should not be an insurmountable hurdle.

Government officials must also assess how much Korea's minesweepers could realistically contribute. The relatively small vessels weigh under 700 tons, and sailing them independently to the Middle East would take several months and risk hull damage. As a result, officials are also discussing chartering large civilian cargo ships to transport the vessels — a method also used by the U.S. Navy to move minesweepers over long distances or transport damaged destroyers.

"The government's commitment to freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is firm," a senior ruling Democratic Party official said on condition of anonymity. "The Ministry of National Defense is reviewing options from multiple angles, taking comprehensive account of peninsular readiness and domestic legal procedures."

However, caution prevails in some party circles. Another senior ruling party official said that the question of deploying minesweepers "has not yet reached the stage of consultations with the United States, Britain or France," as "discussions can only begin once a cease-fire is signed." The official also noted that "the actual extent of mine-laying in the strait remains unclear," citing the need to assess conditions on the ground first. According to the Associated Press, the precise number of mines that Iran has laid in the Strait of Hormuz has not been determined.

The Defense Ministry, the lead agency on the issue, said that it is "actively participating in international discussions on ensuring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz," and that it "will carefully examine realistic options for contribution with relevant ministries and take comprehensive account of international law, the safety of international sea lanes, the Korea-U.S. alliance, the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and domestic legal procedures." The ministry's stance remains that the government's response level will be tied to how the situation and the surrounding countries' reactions develop.

Trump said on Sunday that a peace deal with Iran is complete and ordered the immediate lifting of a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports. 

"The deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete. Congratulations to all!" Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. "I hereby fully authorize the toll-free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the [U.S.] Naval blockade. Ships of the world, start your engines. Let the oil flow!"

The deal is understood to be a memorandum of understanding — rather than a comprehensive agreement — that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and set the stage for 60-day technical talks on Iran's nuclear program. The broader shape of any permanent settlement remains unclear.

BY YOON JI-WON [[email protected]]