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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called on South Korea and other allied nations to "step up" and contribute to efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global energy supplies. Speaking at a Pentagon press conference on Tuesday, Hegseth said the United States is conducting what it calls "Project Freedom" to restore safe passage through the strait, which has been disrupted amid the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran.
"We hope South Korea would step up just like we hope Japan would step up, just like we hope Australia would step up, just like we hope Europe steps up," Hegseth said, according to Yonhap News Agency. "But we're not waiting for them to do so. We're looking to set the conditions to hand to them."
The remarks came a day after US President Donald Trump wrote on social media that it is time for South Korea to participate in a mission to free up shipping in the strait. The waterway has been effectively choked off, prompting the US to impose a naval blockade of Iranian ports and vessels, a move that began on April 13, according to Yonhap.
Coverage Comparison
The story has been covered primarily by Yonhap News Agency (South Korea's leading wire service) and TASS (Russia's state news agency). All five sources agree on the core facts: Hegseth made public calls for allies to assist in securing the Strait of Hormuz, the US has imposed a naval blockade, and the mission is intended to ensure safe navigation and commerce.
Yonhap's reports provide the most detail, including direct quotes from Hegseth and context about the US operation. TASS's coverage, while more concise, focuses on Hegseth's statement that the US operation is temporary and that Washington expects other countries to take responsibility for safe navigation "at the appropriate time." TASS also noted that Trump has referred to NATO as a "paper tiger," a claim that has not been repeated by other sources in this set and remains unverified by them.
All sources attribute the calls to Hegseth and Trump, with Yonhap providing direct quotes. The tone across sources is mostly neutral, though Yonhap's reporting includes Hegseth's own assertive language, such as "free riding" and "bold and dangerous."
Key Claims
- Allies should share the burden: Hegseth said that Europe and Asia have "benefited from our protection for decades, but the time for free riding is over," as reported by multiple Yonhap articles. He emphasized that securing the strait "should not be America's fight alone."
- US operation is temporary: Hegseth described the US mission in the Strait of Hormuz as a "temporary mission," saying that the US is "stabilizing the situation so commerce can flow again," but that "the world needs this waterway a lot more than we do," as quoted by TASS and Yonhap.
- Naval blockade is in place: The US has imposed a naval blockade of Iranian ports and vessels, which is "growing and going global," according to Hegseth, as reported by Yonhap. The blockade began on April 13 and will last "as long as it takes."
- Europe's dependency exceeds that of the US: Hegseth stated that Europe needs safe passage through the strait for energy imports "much more than the United States does," adding that "this is much more their fight than ours," according to Yonhap.
- US seized Iranian ships: Yonhap reported that the US seized two Iranian "dark fleet" ships in the Indo-Pacific region. This claim is carried by a single source and has not been independently confirmed by other outlets.
- Iranian attacks on merchant vessels: Yonhap also reported that Iran attacked five merchant vessels and seized two of them in the Strait of Hormuz. This, too, is a single-source claim.
- President Trump's social media post: Trump wrote on social media that it is time for South Korea to participate in the mission to free up shipping in the strait. This is reported by multiple Yonhap articles.
- Cease-fire still holds: Hegseth said the cease-fire between the US and Iran "certainly holds," but that the US is "watching it very closely," as quoted by Yonhap.
Perspectives
- US official perspective: The US Defense Secretary frames the US action as a stabilizing effort to restore freedom of navigation, while criticizing allies for what he sees as insufficient contributions. He insists that the mission is temporary and that allies must take over responsibility.
- South Korean perspective: Yonhap's coverage highlights that South Korea relies heavily on the Strait of Hormuz for energy imports and that Seoul officials have taken a cautious stance on the US request, suggesting domestic political pressure on the issue.
- Russian perspective: TASS's coverage focuses on the temporary nature of the US operation and the expectation that other countries will take over, reflecting a more detached, neutral tone typical of state media.