US Defense Secretary (War Secretary) Pete Hegseth said he hopes South Korea will join "Project Freedom."
Hegseth made the remarks at a press conference held Wednesday at the Department of Defense in Arlington, Virginia, saying, "We are in contact with (Korean vessels)." Asked whether there were any signs that South Korea would respond to the request to participate in Project Freedom, as President Donald Trump mentioned on Truth Social, Hegseth said, "We hope Korea will do so," adding, "That kind of targeted attack reflects the indiscriminate behavior that Iran is carrying out."
"Just as we hope Japan, Australia, and Europe will step up, we hope South Korea will also step up," Hegseth said. "But we are not just waiting for them to do so. We are creating conditions under which we can hand over (the situation) to them." He stressed, "President Trump has made it clear: 'These are your ships, and you need to join in defending them.' We sincerely hope they will do so."
A day earlier, Trump said, "Iran has fired multiple times at cargo ships from countries unrelated to the conflict, including South Korea," adding, "I think it is time for South Korea to join the operation as well." The defense secretary's remarks are interpreted as renewed pressure on South Korea to participate in the operation.
"Project Freedom is a temporary mission for us," Hegseth said. "The world needs this waterway far more than the United States does." He added, "We are stabilizing the situation so that trade can flow smoothly again, but at the appropriate time, we will hand over this mission, hoping the rest of the world will step up soon." The remarks are seen as encouraging participation from other countries, including South Korea, by indicating that the United States will not lead this mission indefinitely.
"Iran has been firing at civilian oil tankers and trying to impose a toll-collection system," Hegseth said. "This is a form of international extortion and cannot be tolerated. Project Freedom will put an end to it." Amid Iran's attacks on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and others, Hegseth warned, "The ceasefire has not collapsed," adding, "Iran must act prudently."
