Under US pressure, South Korea sends its military forces near the Strait of Hormuz South Korea announced its plan to expand naval activity in the waters near the Strait of Hormuz. This action includes sending additional equipment to locate sea mines and deal with them. Seoul, despite Iran's previous warnings and American pressures for the military participation of this Asian country in securing this waterway. This action means expanding the range of operation of South Korea's "Chongha" unit against piracy. Since 2009, this unit has been protecting commercial ships in the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Somalia, and is about to expand its operations to the waters near the port of Duqm, Oman. This port is about 650 km from the Strait of Hormuz. The Yonhap news agency reported that this unit is currently equipped with a 4,400-ton destroyer, a naval helicopter and several patrol ships, and plans are also being made to add a P-8A maritime patrol plane, explosives disposal experts and equipment to detect unmanned sea mines. Also, 75 additional employees will join this unit.