Park Ji-won is a writer for The Korea Times who has been covering a wide range of topics from Korea’s culture to its politics. An avid journalism enthusiast to the core, Ji-won brings a thoughtful and unique perspective to every topic she covers. On weekends, you'll often find her contemplating life’s purpose on a yoga mat — with a cup of quality tea in hand. A native Korean speaker by birth and fluent in English through her work, she went to college in Japan and is learning Chinese and French — hoping to add Polish, Russian and Thai to the mix.
Seoul blames Iran for Korean ship attack, vows 'diplomatic offensive'
The damaged hull of Korean-operated, Panama-flagged cargo vessel HMM Namu, which was hit by unidentified airborne objects while near the Strait of Hormuz, May 4 / Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs
By Park Ji-won
A senior Korean government official said Thursday that Iran is almost certainly behind the attack on the Korean-operated cargo ship HMM Namu in the Strait of Hormuz on May 4, while stressing that an investigation is still underway and vowing a "diplomatic offensive" against those responsible once confirmed.
“Although the investigation is not yet conclusive, based on common sense, it is unlikely any actor other than Iran was responsible for the attack,” the official said, noting there were no pirates operating in the area at the time.
The official said the government intends to launch diplomatic retaliation against those responsible once the investigation is complete.
“If (the Korean government) provides (sound) evidence to Iran, I expect Iran would show us certain reactions. In order to do that, we need a thorough investigation,” the official said. The Korean government is sharing intelligence with the United States to jointly examine the incident.
The attack on the HMM Namu was the 33rd such incident in the waterway, the official noted, adding that previous cases and responses are also being taken into consideration.
However, the government stopped short of drawing final conclusions before the full investigation ends.
"We lack intelligence confirming the use of missiles or drones, so it’s too early to be certain," the official said. "There are no domestic militias in Iran. However, multiple actors could be involved, ranging from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Iranian Navy to terrorist groups, as the UAE suggested."
It is the first time a senior government official has identified Iran as likely being behind the HMM vessel attack. There were 24 crew members on board, including six Koreans. One was reported to be injured due to the attack. The government has remained cautious against pointing fingers at any specific country or entity over the incident, amid diplomatic sensitivities.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Wednesday hinted at the possibility that Iran is involved in the attack by narrowing down the list of likely suspects behind the attack to Iran-linked entities, while leaving open the possibility that militia groups may have been involved. On Sunday, Cheong Wa Dae only said there was an “external attack” on the vessel.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defense announced Thursday that it also sent a 10-member team, including special analysts from the Agency for Defense Development, to the Dubai port where the damaged ship is being towed for inspection and repair. The team is expected to investigate the incident and inspect the ship in the Gulf nation.
The government is also planning to transfer the airborne object debris to Korea for further inspection. The debris is currently being stored in the Korean Embassy in the United Arab Emirates.
On May 6, the Iranian Embassy in Seoul rejected claims that the country was involved in the attack. “The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran firmly rejects and categorically denies any allegations regarding the involvement of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the incident involving damage to a Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz," the embassy said.