President Lee Jae-myung, on a state visit to France, said on the 8th (local time) that "Korea and France will continue close coordination so that freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the stability of global supply chains are restored as soon as possible."
Lee said this in a joint press announcement after holding a summit with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris the same day, noting that "(the two leaders) agreed to expand the two countries' close cooperation into a joint effort for the peace and prosperity of the international community."
The Strait of Hormuz is a key route for crude oil imported by Korea and a core area for global maritime logistics, and if it is blockaded, it is a strategic point that could deliver an immediate blow to the domestic economy and industrial supply chains.
In particular, Lee also said, "In April, I took part in a Strait of Hormuz meeting led by France and the United Kingdom and expressed Korea's willingness to contribute to the strait's stability and freedom of navigation."
As the issue of deploying troops to the Strait of Hormuz has recently surfaced, this is seen as meaning the matter could be discussed not only with the United States but also with various members of the international community, including France and the United Kingdom.
Initially, the Blue House said there was "nothing decided" regarding a Hormuz deployment, but it is known that internal reviews are underway on several options for military support.
On the Russia-Ukraine war, Lee said, "Korea has supported Ukraine in various fields so far. We will continue to work with the international community to help restore peace and rebuild Ukraine."
On the Korean Peninsula issue, Lee emphasized, "President Macron has shown unwavering support for our Korean Peninsula policy," adding, "The two countries will work closely together for peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the international community."
In addition, Lee assessed the Protocol Amending the Agreement on the Protection of Classified Military Information and the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement, adopted at the Korea-France summit that day, as "a substantive leap in defense and security cooperation."
He then cited as examples that well demonstrate "military coordination" the two countries' Pegasus joint air force drill to be conducted in Seoul next week and reciprocal port calls by the two countries' navies in the second half of this year.