The government says the fire on a Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on the 4th stems from a strike by an unidentified aerial vehicle. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announces the joint government investigation results on the 10th and releases photos recorded by the on-site inspection team. A hole measuring 5 m across and 7 m deep is confirmed on the lower hull./Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The presidential office said on the 10th that it convened a National Security Council (NSC) working-level committee with relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, after it was revealed that the explosion on the Korean vessel HMM "Namuho" in the Strait of Hormuz was caused by a strike from an unidentified flying object.

A presidential office official said that day, "We held an NSC working-level coordination meeting with relevant ministries to discuss the incident in which our ship (Namuho) was damaged."

However, the official did not disclose specifics, saying, "We cannot provide details such as the content of the meeting." In an additional notice, the official said, "Please understand that it is difficult to confirm the specific details of the discussions."

It appears they are minimizing external messaging while reviewing and discussing the implications of the investigation results from multiple angles. Earlier, the presidential office, after a fire broke out on the Namuho on the 4th, consistently said it "cannot draw a conclusion until accurate investigation results come out," deferring judgment and maintaining maximum caution.

The presidential office is expected to decide its response after closely monitoring the additional investigation, Iran's reaction, and public opinion trends.

Park Il, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announces the cause of the explosion and fire involving the Korean vessel HMM Namu in the Strait of Hormuz at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 10th./Courtesy of News1

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held an emergency briefing that day and said, "The investigation confirmed that on May 4 an unidentified flying object struck the stern of HMM (Namuho)." Park Il, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that due to strikes by two unidentified flying objects, "the port-side stern outer plate was damaged about 5 meters across, and the hull was penetrated to a depth of about 7 meters."

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Ambassador to Korea Kuchechi of Iran to the ministry building that day. Spokesperson Park drew a line, saying it was only to explain the first-phase investigation results, but some observers say it may be an attempt to press Iran for responsibility.

It is highly likely that Iran was behind the attack on the Namuho. U.S. President Donald Trump previously said there was "fire from Iran." Iran's state-run PressTV also reported on the 6th that it "targeted a Korean ship that violated maritime regulations."

※ This article has been translated by AI. Share your feedback here.