South Korea faces intensifying pressure to respond to U.S. President Donald Trump's demand for allied warships in the vital Strait of Hormuz, with analysts warning that the summit between Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi — slated for later Thursday in Washington, D.C. — could leave Seoul with little diplomatic room to keep leaving the request unanswered. Both South Korea and Japan were repeatedly mentioned as Trump stepped up pressure for warships to protect the shipping route off the cost of Iran. Yet neither East Asian allies, nor China, nor NATO members have responded or rebuffed Trump’s call, while Iran has effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz amid the U.S. and Israel's continued war campaign. Analysts said the Hormuz question is likely to be addressed at the Trump-Takaichi talks and that South Korea would feel the consequences of however Tokyo responds. “The summit represents an unprecedented level of pressure on Korea after it remained silent and tried to buy time, given the shared traits with Japan that Trump has been addressing,” said Cho Han-bum,