A Republic of Korea (ROK) joint government investigation team has confirmed that two unidentified aerial objects struck a ROK-operated vessel in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month. According to the foreign ministry, the incident occurred on May 4, sparking an explosion and fire on the Panamanian-flagged ship, the HMM NAMU.
The investigation revealed that the two objects hit the outer plate of the port-side ballast tank at the stern of the vessel at approximately 3:30 p.m. local time. The impacts occurred roughly one minute apart, resulting in immediate flames and smoke caused by the vibration and impact.
Fortunately, all 24 crew members on board—including six South Koreans and 18 foreign nationals—were confirmed to be unharmed. Preliminary findings suggest the fire was external, as the vessel's engine, generator, and boiler showed no abnormalities, indicating the internal systems remained intact.
While the exact type and size of the aerial objects remain undetermined, the ministry stated that further analysis is currently being conducted on debris recovered from the scene. In a diplomatic move, the ROK foreign ministry recently briefed the Iranian Ambassador to the ROK, Saeed Koozechi, on the investigation results, noting Iran as a relevant party in the case.
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ROK says unidentified aerial objects hit vessel in Strait of Hormuz
cgtn.com
