South Korea Weighs Role In US Hormuz Mission After Ship Blast

08:18 5.5.2026

South Korea has said it would “review its position” on joining US-led operations in the Strait of Hormuz after Donald Trump blamed Iran for an apparent attack on a South Korean-operated vessel.

An explosion and fire struck the Panama-flagged cargo ship HMM Namu on May 4 while it was anchored in the vital waterway, which has been largely blocked since the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East in late February.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said on May 5 that all 24 crew members on the Namu were safe and that the fire had been extinguished, adding that “the exact cause of the accident would be figured out after the vessel is towed and its damage is assessed.”

Trump said Iran had fired on the ship and urged Seoul to join US efforts to escort stranded vessels, suggesting it was time for allies to contribute to securing the strait.

Seoul’s Defense Ministry said it would “carefully review our position,” citing international law, maritime safety, and alliance considerations. It also said that it had been “actively participating in international discussions on cooperation to ensure safe passage” through the strait.

Vanguard, a British maritime risk management company that monitors shipping threats, said authorities were investigating whether the blast was caused by an attack, a drifting mine or another external factor, as dozens of South Korean-linked vessels remain stranded in the crucial shipping lane.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters

Source: blockade-gulf-israel/33640284.html?lbis=454047

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