South Korea plans to expand the anti-piracy patrol scope of its Cheonghae Unit from the waters off Somalia to the vicinity of the Port of Duqm in Oman, located about 650 kilometers from the Strait of Hormuz, in response to U.S. pressure for support in the conflict with Iran. A Ministry of National Defense spokesperson stated on Thursday that the government will submit a motion to the National Assembly next week, following cabinet deliberation, to extend the naval task force's mission period and expand its operational radius. The new mission will be strictly limited to non-combat operations and will remain under independent South Korean command.