On the evening of May 10 local time, according to the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a government investigation confirmed that a ship operated by a South Korean shipping company, which exploded and caught fire near the Strait of Hormuz on May 4, was struck at the stern by an unidentified flying object.
The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the specific size and model of the object cannot be confirmed at this time.
The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said there were a total of two flying objects that attacked the South Korean vessel, and whether they were missiles or drones, as well as the origin of the attack, require further investigation.
Separately, reports indicate that the Iranian ambassador to South Korea has arrived at the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry will brief the ambassador on the findings of the investigation into the attack on the vessel.
Around 20:40 local time on May 4, a vessel operated by a South Korean shipping company and anchored in the Strait of Hormuz experienced an explosion and fire. The vessel had six South Korean crew members and 18 foreign crew members, with no reports of casualties.
South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Park Il said on May 10 that a joint government investigation team conducted an on-site inspection of the vessel on May 8.
The investigation results show that around 15:30 local time on May 4, two unidentified flying objects struck the vessel’s stern twice within a one-minute interval. After the impacts, flames and thick smoke appeared at the scene, and the damaged area of the stern showed bending and deformation.
The investigation team plans to conduct further analysis on the debris of the unidentified flying objects found at the scene.
Park Il stated that the South Korean government will thoroughly investigate the matter and, to prevent similar incidents from recurring, will pursue all possible measures, including cooperation with the international community, to effectively ensure the safety of its nationals.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the involved vessel, operated by Hyundai Merchant Marine and flying the flag of Panama, was towed to a port in Dubai, UAE, on May 8, where a South Korean government expert team subsequently conducted an on-site investigation.
The expert team consists of seven members, including three investigators from the Maritime Safety Tribunal under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and four experts from the National Fire Agency. In addition to questioning the crew, the team analyzed the vessel’s voyage data recorder and surveillance footage.
It is reported that this is the first attack incident involving a South Korean vessel in the region since the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict, drawing significant attention.
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