South Korea's Lee says will not deploy military to get involved in Middle East conflict

FILE PHOTO: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung attends a joint statement with French President Emmanuel Macron (not seen) at the Elysee Palace in Paris as part of South Korean President Lee's state visit to France, September 8, 2026. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/Pool/File Photo

SEOUL, ⁠Sept 18 (Reuters) - South ⁠Korean President Lee ‌Jae Myung said on Friday he ​would not ⁠deploy any ⁠military assets to the ⁠Middle ‌East that ⁠would draw the country ​into ‌conflict related to the ⁠Iran ​war.

However, the government is ⁠considering whether to ​expand its role safeguarding navigation through ⁠the Strait of Hormuz, Lee said at ​a news ⁠conference.

(Reporting by ​Jack Kim, ‌Joyce Lee, Heejin ​KimEditing by Ed Davies)