The Korea Coast Guard responded after an explosion and fire occurred on a Korean vessel that had been trapped in the Strait of Hormuz under Iran's control.
The agency said on May 4 that it shared the ship fire situation with maritime rescue authorities in five countries near the Strait of Hormuz—United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman—and requested swift rescue cooperation in case of an emergency.
Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other related ministries obtained information at about 8:40 p.m. that an explosion and fire had occurred on a cargo ship operated by a Korean shipping company that was anchored in waters near the UAE on the inner side of the Strait of Hormuz.
A total of 24 crew members were on board the ship, including six Korean nationals and 18 foreign nationals. The government said, "There are no reported casualties so far."
An official at the Korea Coast Guard said, "We are sharing information in real time with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to determine the specific circumstances," adding, "We will maintain a rescue cooperation framework with neighboring countries in preparation for any contingency."