Donald Trump, had previously claimed that the fire was caused by an Iranian attack. He urged South Korea to play a greater role in protecting the region's shipping lanes

SEOUL, Information about the attack on the South Korean ship in the Strait of Hormuz is being withheld by South Korea, following an investigation into the fire that engulfed the HMM Namu. It is noteworthy that a fire broke out on a cargo ship operated by a South Korean company in the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports from South Korea.

Seoul's first official acknowledgment

The South Korean foreign ministry said a fire and an explosion occurred on the vessel operated by South Korean shipper HMM (011200.KS), opens new tab. It added that no casualties were reported and authorities were investigating what caused the blaze. This was Seoul's first official acknowledgment that the incident was the result of an attack, but it refrained from accusing any side.

Two unidentified southern objects struck the HMM Namu vessel 

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a joint investigation by the South Korean government concluded that 'two unidentified southern objects' struck the HMM Namu vessel approximately one minute apart on 4 May, while the ship was anchored near the UAE coast. The fire ⁠broke out in the engine room of the Panama-flagged cargo ship with 24 crew members, including six Korean ​nationals, on board, an HMM spokesperson said, adding that the cause of the blaze was unclear and being investigated. 

The ship was towed to Dubai

On the other hand, the ship was shaken by two strikes, the ministry said, causing a fire and smoke to rise and leaving a hole in the ship's outer hull. This hole measured about 5 metres wide and 5 metres deep. The ​fire had now been extinguished, surveillance camera footage showed, and it could take several days to tow the vessel to Dubai, the spokesperson said.

Related : An Iranian drone strike has hit MSC Ishyka, a vessel linked to Israel.

Following an Iranian strike

Following an Iranian strike, a UAE oil port was ablaze, and a handful of commercial vessels were reported to have been hit. This provoked the war's biggest escalation since a ceasefire was declared four weeks ago, with Trump's attempt to use the U.S. Navy to free up shipping.

During a press briefing on Sunday,

During a press briefing on Sunday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Park Il said: 'We are not making any assumptions at this stage about who is responsible for the attack,' he said, referring to on-site inspections, analysis of surveillance recordings, and interviews with the ship's captain. He added, 'It is believed that the cause of the fire is unrelated to the interior of the ship.'

The joint South Korean investigation team

The joint South Korean investigation team, comprising three marine investigators and four forensic fire experts, arrived in Dubai on 5 May, the day the HMM Namu docked at the port. The team conducted a full-day on-site inspection of the ship on 8 May.

Further analysis will be undergone by the debris that was found, which is believed to be from the propellant engines used in the attack, according to Park. He added that the pattern of damage suggested that the ship had not been attacked by a mine or torpedo.

Pressure is being increased on Seoul 

Pressure is being increased on Seoul at a time when greater contributions to maritime security efforts around the Strait of Hormuz are being pushed for by the United States from its allies following escalating tensions related to the conflict with Iran. Donald Trump, the US President, had previously claimed that the fire was caused by an Iranian attack. He urged South Korea to play a greater role in protecting the region's shipping lanes.

#Donald Trump #HMM Namu #Strait of Hormuz # South Korean #Iranian attack#UAE oil port#Foreign Ministry spokesman #an investigation# Fire