South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung has made it clear that the country will not send its military to the Middle East in a way that could involve it in direct conflict, rejecting pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to support military actions in Iran. Speaking at a news conference on Friday, Lee emphasized that South Korea would not deploy military assets in any form that could lead to war. “There won’t be deployment that would involve or enter war. I can tell you that very clearly,” he said. However, he noted that the government is considering a greater role in protecting maritime navigation in the region, particularly in areas where commercial shipping routes are critical. South Korea currently has a naval presence off the coast of Somalia as part of an international anti-piracy mission. Lee explained that the country must take necessary measures to protect its commercial shipping and the safety of its citizens, even if it means a more active role in the region. This comes amid tensions with the U.S., as Trump has criticized South Korea for not providing enough support for the Iran conflict and for reducing major joint military exercises with the U.S. this summer. These moves have unsettled the U.S. ally, who is now reviewing the possibility of sending military assets to the Strait of Hormuz, although the idea is facing strong opposition from the public. In addition to the Middle East issues, Lee addressed the ongoing negotiations with the U.S. regarding South Korea’s investment commitments under a trade deal. He said that concerns over the commercial viability of the agreement remain the main obstacle to reaching a final deal. South Korea had pledged to invest $350 billion in U.S. manufacturing in exchange for reduced tariffs on Korean imports. However, the government has postponed a parliamentary briefing on the investment plans, which is now expected to take place next week. Lee also mentioned the possibility of a meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the coming months, though he noted that several factors would need to align for such a meeting to happen. He said both sides want dialogue and are working to make it possible. However, North Korean state media has not responded publicly to Trump’s repeated calls for a meeting. According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump has been pushing his aides to arrange a meeting with Kim as soon as autumn.