South Korea's Ministry of Defense said on Monday that South Korea and the US plan to hold routine high-level defense talks this week. Seoul is currently evaluating whether to send military forces to the Strait of Hormuz. South Korea's Ministry of Defense said that the biannual comprehensive defense dialogue between South Korea and the US will be held from Wednesday to Friday in the southeastern port city of Busan. The two sides have not clearly set out the issues, but outsiders generally expect the talks to discuss the possibility of South Korea sending troops to the Strait of Hormuz. Washington has been putting pressure on South Korea to join the operation to ensure the safety of this critical waterway. Last week, South Korea sent a security situation assessment team to the UAE to investigate the situation around the Strait of Hormuz. The move sparked speculation that South Korea is seriously considering implementing a military deployment to the strait, but the South Korean government stressed that the matter has not yet been finalized. Iran has publicly warned against any plans to send troops to the region, saying such actions would have “serious consequences.”

South Korea's Ministry of Defense said on Monday that South Korea and the US plan to hold routine high-level defense talks this week. Seoul is currently evaluating whether to send military forces to the Strait of Hormuz. South Korea's Ministry of Defense said that the biannual comprehensive defense dialogue between South Korea and the US will be held from Wednesday to Friday in the southeastern port city of Busan. The two sides have not clearly set out the issues, but outsiders generally expect the talks to discuss the possibility of South Korea sending troops to the Strait of Hormuz. Washington has been putting pressure on South Korea to join the operation to ensure the safety of this critical waterway. Last week, South Korea sent a security situation assessment team to the UAE to investigate the situation around the Strait of Hormuz. The move sparked speculation that South Korea is seriously considering implementing a military deployment to the strait, but the South Korean government stressed that the matter has not yet been finalized. Iran has publicly warned against any plans to send troops to the region, saying such actions would have “serious consequences.”