Ban Kil-joo, a professor of international security studies at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, stated that if South Korea decides to deploy military forces in the Strait of Hormuz, it will send an important signal to Washington, indicating that despite recent frictions on issues such as trade, South Korea remains willing to shoulder its responsibilities as an ally. He believes that the various options currently reported in the media (deploying maritime patrol aircraft, logistics support ships, and minesweeping and demining units) constitute a "moderate-intensity" military contribution, demonstrating South Korea's support for the international community in maintaining navigational safety in the Strait of Hormuz without constituting participation in military operations against Iran.
