[South Korea Plans to Expand Escort Force's Operational Area to Waters Near the Strait of Hormuz] According to Yonhap News Agency on November 5th, the South Korean Ministry of National Defense announced plans to submit a revised proposal to the National Assembly to extend the deployment period of its escort force (the Cheonghae Force). The proposal includes expanding the force's operational area to the southern waters of Oman, closer to the Strait of Hormuz, and deploying additional military equipment and personnel. Yonhap News Agency points out that this move can be seen as a concrete step by South Korea in military action to stabilize the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.