South Korea Confirms Hormuz Assessment Team, Says No Deployment Decided

South Korea’s Defense Ministry said it dispatched a fact-finding team to the United Arab Emirates to assess political, security and operational conditions around the Strait of Hormuz. The team left over the weekend and could return as early as this week, after which its findings will be reported to the National Security Council. The ministry said the mission was not based on an assumption that troops would be deployed and that no deployment decision has been made. It also denied that Washington imposed a November deadline; possible aircraft, personnel and mine-removal equipment remain under discussion but have not been approved.