SEOUL, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's Defense Ministry said Tuesday that it had dispatched an on-site assessment team to the Strait of Hormuz to gauge the local situation, including political and security conditions.
It stressed that the assessment was not conducted on the premise of an actual troop deployment.
The ministry also said that reports claiming the United States had set a deadline in requesting the deployment of South Korean assets to the region were not true. No decisions have been made regarding a possible deployment, the ministry said.
Several South Korean media outlets reported earlier Friday that the military was moving to prepare for a possible deployment to the strategic waterway.
Under South Korean law, an overseas troop deployment requires a decision by the National Security Council, deliberation by the cabinet, and approval from the National Assembly. ■
