South Korea investigates who struck HMM Namu in Strait of Hormuz

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Wednesday a vessel operated by a Korean shipping company was currently passing through the Strait of Hormuz in what would mark the first such case involving a Korea-managed ship since the outbreak of the U.S.-Iran war. The envisioned passage came about two weeks after a Panama-flagged cargo ship, HMM Namu, operated by Korean shipping company HMM Co., was struck by two unidentified flying objects, causing an explosion and fire and leaving one of the ship's 24 crew members with minor injuries.

South Korea investigating objects that hit vessel in Strait of Hormuz South Korea said it is continuing “close and serious discussions” over the recent attack on the South Korean-operated vessel HMM Namu in the Strait of Hormuz on 4 May, according to the Yonhap news agency. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Il said Seoul would decide on further action once an investigation into the incident is completed. An official inquiry found that two unidentified flying objects struck the vessel, causing an explosion and fire, Yonhap reported. One crew member suffered minor injuries. Park said debris recovered from the site was being analysed to determine the nature of the objects and identify those responsible, adding that Seoul could provide explanations to Iran if additional findings emerge. South Korean officials have accused Iran of carrying out the attack, while Tehran has denied involvement.  A photo released on 10 May shows the damaged South Korean cargo ship HMM Namu docked at port in Dubai after the Strait of Hormuz incident. (South Korean Foreign Ministry/AFP)

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Wednesday that an investigation into the attack on a South Korean-operated commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz was in its final stage, adding the government plans to disclose the findings once completed. A government investigation team earlier concluded that two unidentified flying objects struck the HMM Namu on May 4, causing an explosion and fire aboard the vessel. Additional investigation into engine debris recovered from the objects is under way to identify the objects and those responsible for the incident. "The investigation appears to be almost in its final stage," Cho said during a parliamentary committee session, adding that experts, including military personnel dispatched from the United Arab Emirates, participated in the initial probe. Regarding responsibility for the attack, Cho said it remains difficult to conclusively identify the perpetrator. "It is difficult to accurately specify (the attacker)," he said. "We plan to report the investigation results to the committee and announce them to the media." Cho also said he has maintained close

Korea and Iran continue to hold close and serious consultations regarding a recent attack on a Korean-operated vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday, vowing to take "necessary measures" once the results of an ongoing investigation become available. A government investigation team earlier concluded that two unidentified flying objects struck the HMM Namu on May 4, causing an explosion and fire aboard the vessel. Additional analysis of engine debris recovered from the objects is under way to identify the objects and those responsible for the incident. "We are engaged in very close and serious discussions with the Iranian side regarding the HMM Namu incident. If additional findings are available, we will continue necessary communication and take appropriate measures, including providing explanations to the Iranian side," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Il said at a press briefing. "Our top priority is ensuring the safety and freedom of navigation of our vessels and crew members in the region, and we are pursuing diplomatic efforts on multiple fronts to th

The debris from airborne objects that struck an HMM-operated vessel in the Strait of Hormuz last week arrived in Korea on Friday to undergo analysis, the foreign ministry said. The debris was flown in following consultations with the United Arab Emirates government and will be closely analyzed by specialized agencies, it said in a notice to the press. An on-site inspection conducted last weekend found that the HMM Namu, a Panama-flagged cargo ship operated by Korean shipping firm HMM, was struck by two airborne objects while stranded in the strait on May 4, leading to an explosion and fire on board. The government has yet to identify the objects or who was behind the attack. A senior government official said earlier that the possibility it was launched by an actor other than Iran was "not high," and that a "commensurate diplomatic offensive" would be needed once the perpetrator was identified. The strike was the 33rd attack on a civilian vessel since the war in the Middle East began with the United States and Israel's attack on Iran on Feb. 28, and Seoul was reviewing how other countries

SEOUL, May 14 (Reuters) - The possibility that an entity other than Iran was responsible for the attack against a South Korean cargo vessel near the Strait of Hormuz is low, a senior official in Seoul was quoted as saying by the Yonhap news agency on Thursday. South Korea is analysing intelligence shared by the U.S. on the May 4 attack against South Korean shipper HMM's Namu vessel, which caused a fire and damaged the lower stern hull, Yonhap quoted a senior foreign ministry official as telling reporters.