Attack by actors other than Iran deemed unlikely

The government is continuing its investigation into the attack on the South Korean cargo ship HMM Namuho in the Strait of Hormuz on the 14th, concluding that the possibility of involvement by parties other than Iran is low based on current analysis. A high-ranking official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that based on the absence of detected pirate activity in the vicinity of the area, the statistical probability of an attack by actors other than Iran is not high.

The government is closely sharing information with the U.S. side from the initial stages and is simultaneously analyzing relevant data provided by the U.S.

To clearly identify the perpetrator of the attack, the engine debris recovered from the projectile that struck the Namuho is currently being temporarily stored at the South Korean Embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This debris is scheduled to be transported to South Korea via diplomatic pouch on a civilian flight in the near future, where it will undergo a detailed analysis process by a specialized investigative agency under the Ministry of National Defense.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that there were 34 similar attack cases targeting Chinese vessels on the 4th, just before the Namuho was hit, and that a Thai vessel suffered casualties. In response, the ministry made it clear that any act of aggression against civilian vessels is unacceptable under international law.