S. Korea Says No Decision Yet on Hormuz Deployment

The deferral signals Seoul's careful calibration between alliance expectations and domestic political sensitivities, particularly given the defense posture caveat. The open question is whether Washington will accept a non-military contribution as sufficient, or if pressure will escalate. For regional energy markets, the ambiguity itself is notable—it leaves South Korea's potential role as a wildcard in Gulf security calculations, though the review process suggests no imminent shift in force posture.