Author: Shen Guishi
SEOUL, May 11 (Reuters) – South Korean President Cheong Wa Dae condemned in the strongest terms on Monday an attack on a cargo ship operated by a South Korean shipper in the Strait of Hormuz this month and said South Korea plans to respond once the source of the attack is determined.
A Cheong Wa Dae official said experts conducted a preliminary forensic analysis of the damage to the stern of the ship at the port. The attack caused a fire in the ship’s engine room.
The official said the vessel Namu, operated by shipper HMM Co., did not violate any rules in place at the time in waters off the United Arab Emirates and that it was an unjustified attack on a commercial ship.
“We condemn this act in the strongest terms,” ​​Wi Sung-lac, South Korea’s presidential national security adviser, told a news conference. Wi said a forensic examination by South Korean officials and experts at Dubai Port found damage to the ship.
A Cheong Wa Dae official said the extent of the damage after the attack was unclear due to its location on the lower port side.
The official said it was unclear what role, if any, Iran might have played in the attack. Tehran has previously denied any responsibility for the attack, which involved a powerful impact on the side of the ship.
On Monday, the Iranian Embassy in South Korea said in a statement that it did not have a position on the matter but would announce any updates or official position if there were any.
U.S. President Donald Trump said shortly after the incident that Iran opened fire on the South Korean ship and urged Seoul to join U.S.-led efforts to ensure the safety of shipping through the strait.
(Reporting by Kyu-seok Shim, Jack Kim and Heejin Kim; Editing by Ed Davies)