How South Korea Can Bring Iron to the Strait of Hormuz

The United States is redeploying critical missile defense assets like THAAD from South Korea to the Middle East, creating friction within the alliance due to a perceived lack of genuine consultation. This move, coupled with U.S. requests for South Korean naval support in the Strait of Hormuz, presents a strategic dilemma for Seoul. As an alternative to deploying its own naval forces, a proposal suggests South Korea should instead provide advanced defensive hardware, such as its Cheongung-II missile and laser systems, to partners in the region. This approach would allow South Korea to support freedom of navigation and uphold alliance commitments without overextending its own forces or becoming directly involved in combat.