Korea to deploy troops to Somali waters for anti-piracy efforts

South Korea was set to dispatch a fresh batch of troops to the Gulf of Aden on Tuesday for anti-piracy efforts, the Navy said; amid speculation, the contingent could also undertake missions in the Strait of Hormuz as part of a U.S.-led coalition.

The 30th batch of the Cheonghae Unit is scheduled to depart the southern port city of Busan later in the day to conduct anti-piracy missions off the coast of Somalia for six months starting in September, according to the Navy.

The 300-strong contingent operating the 4,400-ton destroyer, the Kang Gam Chan, is composed of special forces, including an Underwater Demolition Team, a Navy SEAL team, Marines and Navy pilots, aimed at protecting South Korean vessels off the Somali coast and providing support to ships of other nations in nearby waters.

The routine deployment is drawing attention due to the possibility of the unit’s missions expanding to the Strait of Hormuz where the U.S. has called on its allies to forge a coalition against Iran’s military activities amid heightened tensions between Washington and Teheran.

The Cheonghae unit has been deployed in the Gulf of Aden since early 2009 as part of global efforts to tackle piracy in the region.

Over the past decade, the unit had provided support for the safety of around 22,400 vessels and countered 21 pirate attacks as of end-July in treacherous waters, according to the Navy.

The Korea Times