Lee rules out military involvement in Mideast conflict

SEOUL, Sept 18: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Friday he would not deploy military assets to the Middle East in a way that could draw the country into conflict, but Seoul was reviewing whether to play a greater role in safeguarding navigation in the region.
South Korea has maintained a naval presence off the coast of Somalia in an anti-piracy mission, while resisting calls from US President Donald Trump to play a more active military role in supporting Washington over the war in Iran.
"There won't be deployment that would involve or enter war. I can tell you that very clearly," Lee said at a news conference. "We won't deploy military assets in any form to that end."�" REUTERS