SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said on Thursday that Seoul was still considering various options regarding a possible deployment to the Strait of Hormuz, including sending a maritime patrol aircraft.
Seoul was continuing discussions with Washington on possible options, but a combat deployment was ruled out in line with President Lee Jae Myung's earlier announcement, Wi told a parliamentary audit.
Meanwhile, the US military has spent over $47 billion so far to prosecute the war in Iran, more than 25% higher than the Defense Department's estimate in July, according to Pentagon data obtained by Reuters.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on its estimate, which has not been shared publicly.
The disclosure about the rising cost of the Iran war comes as Republicans wrestle with the political fallout of the unpopular conflict ahead of the November 3 election that will determine control of Congress for the next two years.