“It was hit by two unidentified flying objects”: Korean government confirms Korean ship was attacked in Hormuz after a week of investigation

The South Korean government announced on the 10th that the fire aboard the HMM cargo vessel Namuh, which had been anchored in the Strait of Hormuz, was caused by external impacts from two unidentified flying objects.

During an evening briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Park Il stated that at approximately 3:30 p.m. local time on the 4th, two unidentified aerial objects struck the outer hull of the port-side ballast water tank near the ship’s stern about one minute apart. According to the government’s assessment, the first strike appears to have ignited the fire in the engine room, while the second strike rapidly expanded the blaze. Officials said the fire is believed to have originated from an external attack rather than from any malfunction or incident inside the vessel itself.

The attack caused extensive structural damage to the ship. The left side of the stern hull was torn open across an area roughly five meters wide, with damage penetrating approximately seven meters into the vessel’s interior. Internal support frames were reportedly bent inward by the force of the blast. These findings were based on an on-site investigation conducted by a joint government team after the Namuh arrived at a shipyard in Dubai, UAE, on the 8th. The investigative team included three officials from the Central Maritime Safety Tribunal and four forensic fire experts from the National Fire Agency.

Despite the findings, the Foreign Ministry emphasized that the identity of the attacker remains unconfirmed. Officials declined to endorse speculation that Iran was responsible, saying they would “not jump to conclusions.” Although CCTV footage from the ship reportedly captured the unidentified flying objects, investigators have not yet been able to determine their origin, exact type, size, or whether they were drones or missiles.

Investigators also stated that the damage pattern makes a naval mine or torpedo strike unlikely. The damaged section was located approximately one to one-and-a-half meters above sea level, and the deformation pattern indicated the blast force came from above-water external impacts rather than from underwater explosives. Officials added that engine fragments recovered from the scene will undergo further analysis to determine the nature of the aerial objects involved.

Following the announcement, Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo summoned Iranian Ambassador to South Korea Saeed Koozechi to the ministry building and explained the results of the investigation, effectively amounting to a diplomatic summons. After the meeting, the ambassador gave only a brief statement to reporters, saying they had discussed the “general issues” surrounding the attack and directing further questions to the South Korean Foreign Ministry.

The South Korean government had reportedly considered the possibility of an attack shortly after the incident based on testimony from crew members. However, officials initially maintained a cautious stance in public. On the 6th, National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac had stated that the government could not yet conclusively determine whether the ship had been attacked. Following the new findings, the presidential National Security Office announced that a working-level National Security Council meeting involving the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and other related agencies had been convened to discuss the situation.