/ Yonhap News Agency
It is expected that the confirmed attack by unidentified objects on the HMM Namu in the Strait of Hormuz will give South Korea reason to consider joining US-led missions aimed at safeguarding freedom of navigation in the strait, experts noted.
After releasing the results of a government investigation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that two “unidentified flying objects” struck the cargo ship Namu, one after the other, in the Strait of Hormuz last Monday.
The Panama-flagged cargo ship, operated by South Korean shipping company HMM Co., suffered an explosion and fire while stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
A seven-member government team conducted an on-site investigation aboard the vessel, after it was towed from the accident site to a port in Dubai on Friday, May 8.
The attack caused a 7-meter-wide breach in the hull, although no injuries or fatalities were reported among the 24 crew members on board, including six South Koreans.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet been able to identify the exact model or size of the flying objects due to “limitations.” The ministry also stated that it will not prejudge who was behind the attack and added that further analysis will be conducted.
Experts noted that the new findings could mark a turning point for Seoul, which has so far maintained a low profile regarding the possibility of joining the US-proposed Maritime Freedom Initiative (MFC), aimed at improving the exchange of security-related information in the strait and combining diplomatic action with military coordination.
According to them, this could also fuel US pressure on Seoul to join efforts to keep the strait open.
Following the explosion, US President Donald Trump initially claimed that Iran had “fired upon” the cargo ship and urged Seoul to join a mission to keep maritime traffic moving through the Strait of Hormuz.
When asked how the latest findings would affect Seoul’s stance on joining the US-led campaign in the strait, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Park Il said that “the Government will take all possible measures, including cooperation with the international community to prevent this from happening again.”
Park also stated that a “comprehensive review is being conducted on the issue of joining US plans, including the Maritime Freedom Agreement.”
Any immediate contribution by South Korea in the Strait of Hormuz could include non-combat measures, such as intelligence sharing or the deployment of liaison officers, as the country remains cautious about deploying military resources.
“We will carefully review our stance, taking into account international law, the safety of international sea lanes, the South Korea-US alliance, security conditions on the Korean Peninsula, and domestic legal procedures,” the Ministry of Defense stated.
According to many observers, if Seoul decides to deploy forces, it would most likely send the Cheonghae Unit, which is currently on an anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden, off the Somali coast.
However, sending the unit to the conflict-ridden Strait of Hormuz would require approval from the National Assembly, a process that could take considerable time, according to the ministry.
