South Korea considering sending warships to the Strait of Hormuz

South Korea is considering sending warships to the Strait of Hormuz after US President Donald Trump called on it and other countries to take part in its defence. 

"We are closely monitoring President Trump's remarks on social media and will carefully consider the matter in close consultation with the United States," a South Korean presidential official told AFP.

Seoul was "comprehensively considering and exploring various measures... to ensure the safety of energy transport routes", the official said.

Trump said Saturday that "many countries will be sending warships to the Strait of Hormuz, in cooperation with the United States, to keep it open and safe." 

He added that he hoped China, France, Japan, South Korea, Britain and others would send ships to the area.

A senior Japanese official said on Sunday that Tokyo maintained a high threshold for such a move.