Seoul, 29 October, 2026 (Nosheen): South Korea is considering various options for a possible deployment to the Strait of Hormuz, including sending a maritime patrol aircraft, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac said on Thursday. Addressing a parliamentary audit, Wi said Seoul was continuing discussions with Washington on possible deployment options, but ruled out a combat deployment in line with President Lee Jae Myung’s earlier announcement. Meanwhile, the US military has spent more than $47 billion on the war in Iran so far, exceeding the US Defense Department’s estimate in July by over 25 percent, according to Pentagon data obtained by Reuters. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and the revised estimate has not been made public. The disclosure of rising war costs comes as Republicans face growing political pressure over the unpopular conflict ahead of the November 3 election, which will determine control of Congress for the next two years.