According to the Associated Press and other foreign media, the South Korean Ministry of Defense said on Thursday that the government has decided to expand the operational range of the “Clear Sea Force” currently carrying out merchant ship escort missions in the Gulf of Aden waters to the waters south of Oman, closer to the Strait of Hormuz, and to add forces such as maritime patrol aircraft, explosives handling teams, and unmanned mine-sweeping equipment to assist in keeping this strategic waterway open.
P-8A “Seagod” Anti-Submarine Patrol Aircraft. Photograph: Photograph by Korean Media
According to the Associated Press, it is known that with this adjustment, the operational range of the “Qinghai Force” will be expanded from the original 600 nautical miles (about 1,111 kilometers) to about twice as much as before, with the mission area extending to the waters south of Port Amandukum. Port Amandukum is about 350 nautical miles (about 650 kilometers) in a straight line from the Strait of Hormuz.
The report said that the current “prolongation consent” will be effective until the end of this year. The defense ministry said on Thursday that the new amended consent is expected to be submitted to parliament next week after being reviewed by the State Council and approved by the president, following the relevant statutory consent procedures.
A Ministry of Defense official said that the expanded mission scope of the “Qinghai Force” would “absolutely not participate or intervene in war.”