‘Unidentified aircraft’ hit Korean cargo ship in Hormuz on Monday: Seoul

A South Korean cargo ship hit in the Strait of Hormuz six days ago was struck by unidentified aircraft, the foreign ministry in Seoul said on Sunday, days after the fire-damaged HMM Namu arrived in Dubai.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran had “taken some shots” at the Panama-flagged vessel and urged South Korea to join US operations aimed at restoring normal shipping through the strait.

The vital waterway has been virtually closed since the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28, with Tehran responding with attacks across the Middle East and imposing a chokehold on the strait that has rattled global energy markets.

“…two unidentified aircraft struck the outer plate of the port-side ballast tank at the stern of the HMM Namu at roughly one-minute intervals, causing flames and smoke,” foreign ministry spokesman Park Il told a news briefing.

He did not specify what kind of aircraft were involved, saying they “were captured on CCTV footage, but there are limitations in identifying the exact type, launch origin and physical size of the objects.”

Tehran has denied responsibility for the attack, with its embassy in Seoul posting a statement on its website saying that it “firmly rejects and categorically denies any allegations regarding the involvement” of its forces.