South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said he had rejected aspects of a first-fruits investment deal with the United States, in line with their 2025 trade deal, over concerns about commercial viability, the Financial Times reported on Sept. 18. In addition, Lee said South Korea would not deploy military assets to the Strait of Hormuz "that would involve or enter war," though he added that Seoul would consider ways to help safeguard freedom of navigation in the Middle East.