South Korea to send troops to Hormuz Strait

South Korea's government said Tuesday it is sending troops to the Strait of Hormuz, in what is being seen by protesters as a decision that has resulted from pressure from the United States.

"The reason is to protect the lives of South Korean citizens and guarantee the freedom of navigation of vessels," said lawmaker Ahn Gyu-baek in a press conference in Seoul.

Ahn Gyu-baek said that the military had told him that the South Korean government would be sending troops to the Strait of Hormuz by expanding the sphere of activity of the Cheonghae Unit, which has been working as an anti-piracy unit in Gulf of Aden.

Protesters decried the decision, saying the US had put pressure on the South Korean government to deploy the troops.

"As a sovereign nation, we cannot be pressured to make such a decision," said protester You Young-jae.

"The decision can put our young soldiers in harm's way and we urge the government to retract the decision."