On May 10, the government said the fire aboard the South Korean cargo ship HMM Namu in the Strait of Hormuz on May 4 was caused by a strike from an unidentified aerial vehicle (UAV).
At a briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Park Il said a joint government investigation determined an unidentified aerial vehicle struck the ship’s stern on May 4. CCTV recorded the object, but investigators could not definitively identify who launched it, its exact model or its physical size.
Based on an on-site inspection, CCTV review and an interview with the captain, investigators concluded that at about 3:30 p.m. on May 4 two unidentified aerial vehicles struck the outer plating of the port-side ballast tank at the ship’s stern, impacting twice roughly one minute apart.
The strikes produced flames and smoke accompanied by vibration. The fire ignited after the first impact and then spread rapidly following the second. Park said investigators believe the blaze did not originate inside the vessel.
The impact created a breach about 5 m wide and penetrated roughly 7 m into the hull (approximately 16.4 ft by 23 ft), with the plating deformed inward toward the ship’s interior.
Park said the damaged section sat about 1 to 1.5 m (3.3 to 4.9 ft) above the waterline, and that the blast-pressure damage pattern and the hemispherical penetration make a mine or torpedo strike unlikely.
The Foreign Ministry added it will further analyze engine fragments and other debris recovered at the scene.
Park stressed that officials would not speculate on who carried out the attack. An interagency meeting was held that afternoon to review the investigation results.
Park said the government will thoroughly determine the cause of the incident and pursue all available measures, including international cooperation, to prevent recurrence and protect Korean citizens. He added that officials are carefully reviewing participation in U.S. initiatives, including the U.S. Maritime Freedom initiative (MFC).
Meanwhile, footage showed Iran’s ambassador to South Korea, Saeid Kouzechi, entering the Foreign Ministry building that day.
Park said the ambassador visited to receive an explanation of the investigation findings because Iran is a relevant party, even though investigators have not identified the attacker. Ambassador Kouzechi reportedly met with First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yun-ju.
