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2026-05-27 20:13:24
[South Korea Accuses Iran of Missile Attack on Merchant Ship, Escalating the Strait of Hormuz Standoff and Adding a New Fuse to the Middle East Powder Keg] ⑴ South Korea's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday formally blamed Iran for the attack on a South Korean merchant ship in the Strait of Hormuz in early May. According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korean technical analysis revealed debris belonging to the Iranian-made Noor long-range anti-ship cruise missile series at the scene. ⑵ The attacked ship was the "HMM Namu," operated by HMM Corporation, which was struck by two unidentified objects while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on May 4. The South Korean Foreign Ministry also stated that it would reserve judgment on the "ultimate Iranian actor" responsible for the attack and whether it was a deliberate attack. Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo stated that the recovered engine debris had been analyzed to "determine its nature" and identify potential perpetrators. ⑶ Two weeks prior to the incident, HMM Corporation stated that it was investigating whether the attack was "external or internal," and clarified that the ship would be transferred to the coast of the United Arab Emirates. The United States had previously accused Iran of carrying out the attack and suggested that Seoul join a "humanitarian" initiative aimed at ensuring safe passage through the region, but that initiative was subsequently suspended.
