Korean foreign minister urges Iranian counterpart to clarify ship attack facts

Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun called on Tehran to clarify the facts surrounding the recent strike on the HMM Namu, a vessel operated by the Korean shipping company HMM, near the Strait of Hormuz, in a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on Sunday afternoon.

It marks the first time the bilateral foreign ministers have discussed the incident that took place on May 4, when an explosion and fire broke out on the vessel that was anchored in the waters off the coast of the United Arab Emirates and later towed to a Dubai port. There were no reports of major oil spills or casualties among the 24 crew members who were on board, including six Koreans.

Last Thursday, Korea’s Foreign Ministry assessed that Iran was the most likely actor responsible for the incident, but it has maintained a cautious stance as the assertion was only circumstantial as of press time.

Korea’s Foreign Ministry said in a press release on Sunday that Minister Cho explained the Korean government is conducting an additional investigation into the recent incident. He also stressed the safety and free navigation of all vessels, including the 26 Korean-flagged ships, currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.

Araghchi, in return, agreed on the need to restore safe navigation on the strait and that the maritime deadlock should come to an early end.

The two ministers agreed to maintain close communication to ensure the safety of the Korean vessels and their crew members.

The phone call reportedly came into fruition upon Seoul's request on Friday, which Tehran accepted shortly after. The two ministers previously held phone calls on March 23 and April 9.

An investigation into the latest attack is underway, with a Korean Foreign Ministry official saying the government is set to launch a “corresponding diplomatic offensive” once the exact perpetrator is identified.

The debris from airborne objects that struck the HMM Namu arrived in Korea on Friday and is undergoing analysis by the Ministry of National Defense’s affiliated organizations, including the Agency for Defense Development. It has still not been confirmed whether the weapon was a drone or a missile, according to National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac during a KBS interview on Sunday.

“We can’t say it’s Iran, and furthermore, it does not seem to be the right time to pinpoint who within Iran may have been responsible,” Wi said.

“We are keeping all possibilities open and preparing responses for every scenario […] We will hold those responsible accountable, prevent such incidents from happening again and take part in establishing a system that guarantees stable navigation through the strait.”

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [[email protected]]