South Korea advanced a proposal Thursday to expand the operating area of its Cheonghae anti-piracy unit from the Gulf of Aden to waters south of Oman, while increasing its authorized personnel from 320 to 395. The revised deployment plan would add a P-8A maritime patrol aircraft, an explosives disposal team and unmanned equipment for detecting and clearing naval mines. The expanded area would remain about 400 miles (650 kilometers) from the Strait of Hormuz.

The Ministry of National Defense saidpiracy had more than tripled as the Middle East conflict diverted naval resources, leaving commercial shipping more exposed. The proposal