Deputy Minister Wi Sung-lac of the Office of National Security said on the 6th that, regarding the Strait of Hormuz reopening operation "Project Freedom (Liberation)" that U.S. President Donald Trump proposed Korea join, "it is no longer necessary to review it." In a briefing at the Chunchugwan press room at Cheong Wa Dae that day, Wi said, "This morning President Trump said there has been progress toward an agreement with Iran, and that while the maritime blockade will remain in place, the project will be temporarily suspended," adding that this was the situation.
Wi said, "We have reviewed the relevant matters in response to this U.S. request based on our basic position on passage through the strait," and added, "Our government had been reviewing participation in the Maritime Freedom Concept (MFC), and we were going to review Project Freedom as well, but now that that operation has ended, I think a review is no longer necessary."
The MFC is a multinational maritime coalition that the U.S. State Department proposed to embassies in each country on the 28th of last month for "merchant vessel navigation in the Strait of Hormuz." It is separate from Project Freedom, which President Trump proposed while explicitly mentioning Korea. Wi said, "We are figuring out how the Maritime Freedom Concept relates to the Freedom Project," adding, "It appears the Maritime Freedom Concept is a broader approach for stabilizing the strait and ensuring freedom of navigation, while Project Freedom seems to be an assistance operation for immediate passage through the strait."
◇The U.S. presumes an attack, but more verification needed"
Wi indicated that, regarding the cargo ship Namu operated by HMM, which caught fire while anchored in the Strait of Hormuz, the position is that "it may not have been an attack." Although President Trump requested Korea's participation in Project Freedom on the premise of an "Iranian attack," the idea is to first confirm whether there was an attack and then decide on a response.
Wi said, "After further reviewing the information, it did not seem certain that there was an attack," adding, "There was no flooding or listing of the ship." He also said of President Trump and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressing expectations for Korea's participation, "Perhaps, though it is not certain, these U.S. remarks requesting participation seem to be made on the premise that our ship was attacked. But that is a point we need to verify further."
A senior official at Cheong Wa Dae said in this regard, "If it was not an attack, many things would change, and the issue would become a very simple fire incident," adding, "If not (if it was an attack), it would be somewhat different, but for now I don't think we need to speak on the premise of an attack."
Earlier, Cheong Wa Dae said in a media notice the previous day that its position was "reviewing, considering readiness on the Korean Peninsula and domestic legal procedures." However, Cheong Wa Dae explained that this was a "review at a general level." The remarks drew a line against some reports that participation was being discussed positively. The official said, "Since the leader of an ally mentioned us by name and urged participation, it is basic for us to conduct a review," adding, "It is not normal to refuse to review or to dodge an answer. It was said in that context, which led to various interpretations."