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The Taegeukgi flutters over a relatively quiet Cheong Wa Dae on Dec. 28 last year, a day before the presidential office's return to the compound. The presidential standard, Bonghwanggi, is scheduled to be hoisted at midnight on the 29th. The photo shows the view of Cheong Wa Dae seen from the Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 28th. / Reporter Park Seong-il

Cheong Wa Dae stated on the 19th that President Lee Jae-myung's remark that "there will be no troop dispatch involving entering a war" was not a rejection of U.S. President Donald Trump's request to send forces to the Strait of Hormuz.

The presidential office said on the same day, "At yesterday's press conference, President Lee Jae-myung did not reject President Trump's request for South Korea's cooperation regarding the Middle East."

Cheong Wa Dae added, "The government has been examining substantive ways to contribute to protecting our citizens and defending our national interests in close communication with the international community, including the U.S.," stressing, "Under the principled stance of not engaging in war or combat operations, the government will continue reviewing specific contribution measures."

During the press conference the previous day, President Lee firmly declared regarding the deployment issue to the Strait of Hormuz, "There will be no troop deployment that involves or participates in a war."

He also reiterated, "However, it is clear that, like other nations, we must conduct minimal activities to safeguard our commercial vessels, crude oil transport routes, and the lives and safety of our people. There seem to be concerns that this might amount to a deployment participating in or supporting a war, or sending combat troops. Let me state once again: there will be no deployment to war."

Following his remarks, The New York Times reported that President Lee's statements during the press conference meant he would not deploy troops to the Strait of Hormuz, characterizing it as a refusal of President Trump's request.

                                                                                                            Hong Sun-mi