A Korean ship arrested after arriving at Hormuz Cheonghae unit, what is the role?

-The early morning of the 5th (Korean time), one day after the Korean national chemical carrier’Korea Chemie’ was captured by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards at sea (Korean time). Plunged into.

It is said that the Cheonghae unit sailed at full speed (approximately 54 km/h) to the Strait of Hormuz immediately after receiving the arrest situation while carrying out an operation in the waters south of Muscat Port in Oman the day before. Currently, it is known that the Cheonghae unit is focusing on activities to protect the safety of other Korean national ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz while monitoring the situation related to the capture. The average number of Korean merchant ships in and out of the Strait of Hormuz is about 6 per day. In addition, it plans to respond closely to the subsequent situation by working closely with the Combined Naval Command (CMF) in Bahrain, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. It is known that it has maintained cooperation channels with major international organizations and is confirming the safety of our crew members detained in Iran.

The Cheonghae Division’s 33rd Jin Choi Young, commanded by a colonel-class commander, is aboard a checkpoint and search team consisting of special warfare (UDT) members, and about 300 soldiers operating maritime helicopters. It is equipped with anti-submarine, anti-aircraft, anti-ship missiles, sonic detection equipment for submarines, Rings helicopters and high-speed aircraft.

Choi Young-ham succeeded in the’Aden Bay Dawning Operation’ in January 2011 when he performed his first mission to dispatch troops to the 6th Army of the Cheonghae Unit, and rescued the Hanjin Tenjin crew members in April of that year. Lee completed it. A military official said, “It is the first time that the Cheonghae unit has been put into operation in response to the Iranian capture of a Korean ship.” Earlier, in January of last year, the government decided on an independent dispatch plan with the contents of guaranteeing the safety of the Korean people and free navigation of ships by expanding the area for dispatch of the Cheonghae unit from the existing Gulf of Aden to the Gulf of Oman and the Straits of Hormuz to the Persian Gulf.

It is believed that within and outside the military there will be many restrictions on the activities of the Cheonghae unit. This is because the Strait of Hormuz is the’courtyard’ of the Iranian army and is different from the Gulf of Aden, where pirates armed with rifles and portable rocket guns (RPG) are active. In a place where Iranian forces, heavily armed with submarines, drones, and anti-ship missiles, are deployed, the’risk’ in the military activities of the Cheonghae unit is bound to be large.

A military official said, “The Iranian army will keep an eye on the Cheonghae unit’s every step of the way.” It is said that amid rising military tensions with the United States, the warships of pro-US allies appearing near the Strait of Hormuz, which is the front line, will be focused.

In this situation, it is analyzed that the military response of the Cheonghae unit, such as the rescue of detained sailors, is not easy. A military source said, “The Cheonghae unit’s main task is to respond to maritime abductions using UDTs and maritime operational helicopters, so it is practically impossible to perform a military operation to rescue Koreans detained in Iranian territory.” If the Qinghae unit goes deep into the Strait of Hormuz and approaches Iran’s territorial waters or airspace, there is a high possibility of armed conflict between the two sides as the Iranian army responds face to face. Therefore, the Cheonghae unit is expected to take over the role of taking over if the Korean Chemie is released through diplomatic efforts in the future, focusing on preventing recurrence of capture and managing the subsequent situation.

Staff Reporter Yun Sang-ho [email protected]