SEOUL - South Korea plans to expand the operations of its anti-piracy unit into waters closer to the Strait of Hormuz, according to its defence ministry as reported by The Guardian. The newspaper's report, carried under an agency byline, describes the change as an expansion of naval operations, and it refers to the unit's move into "waters closer to the strait of Hormuz."

The Guardian reported that Seoul intends to seek parliamentary approval to extend the area of the Cheonghae unit to about 650km from the vital strait. The report does not give details of when a parliamentary vote would take place, what form the approval would take, or how many personnel or vessels would be involved.

The Guardian linked the plan to criticism from Donald Trump over South Korea's level of support for the war in Iran. According to the report, the defence ministry's announcement came after what it described as pressure from Donald Trump to provide support for his war in Iran.

The available text of the report ends mid-sentence before setting out any further explanation from the government. As a result, the full rationale offered by Seoul, and any response from Washington, cannot be confirmed from this account. Whether parliament approves the plan, and on what terms, is also not addressed in the text available.

This report draws on a single source, The Guardian's account, and the outlet's full article should be consulted for any details not covered here.

Sources: The Guardian: South Korea says it will expand naval operations closer to strait of Hormuz.