South Korea on Sunday sent a government delegation to observe US-led sea drills in the Gulf aimed at stopping cargo suspected of carrying weapons of mass destruction, officials said.
South Korea is under pressure to join the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) sea drills following North Korea's October 9 nuclear test.
A three-member team, consisting of coast guard and foreign ministry officials, will observe the drills in waters off Bahrain from October 30-31, a Coast Guard spokesman told AFP.
South Korea has been reluctant to participate in the exercises because of fears that it could anger neighbouring North Korea. The two Koreas already had a bloody 1950-1953 war.
The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution to broaden sanctions, including cargo inspections, against North Korea for the nuclear test. North Korea has since told South Korea not to enforce the sanctions.
Pyongyang has also warned that South Korea should not join the drills, as Seoul has been urged to play a greater role in implementing the sanctions following the nuclear test.
Song Min-Soon, South Korea's top presidential security adviser, said last week Seoul was considering ways to expand its roles in PSI while not joining any sea blockades against North Korea.
PSI is a US initiative calling for the interdiction of vessels and airliners suspected of carrying weapons of mass destruction or related materials.
It would be expanded under UN sanctions imposed on North Korea following its nuclear test. The sanctions provide for the inspection of cargo to and from North Korea.