South Korea convened an emergency meeting after an explosion and fire broke out on a Korean-operated vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. The government said it will strengthen coordination with host-country authorities so Korean sailors can be rescued and protected immediately if needed.
The Foreign Ministry said the Overseas Nationals Protection Countermeasures Headquarters met at midnight on May 5 under Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jin-a, with seven diplomatic missions in the Middle East and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries attending.
The incident occurred at about 8:40 p.m. on May 4 (Korea time) in waters near the United Arab Emirates, when an explosion and fire broke out on the HMM NAMU, a cargo ship operated by Korean shipping company HMM, the ministry said.
Kim expressed deep concern that it was the first reported damage to a Korean vessel inside the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of war in the Middle East.
“Fortunately, there were no casualties this time, but it is important to identify the cause and prevent a recurrence,” Kim said. She added that it is essential to be fully prepared to take swift steps to protect the lives and safety of Korean sailors at any time.
Participants included the South Korean Embassy in the UAE, the Consulate General in Dubai, and the embassies in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Qatar and Oman.
The embassy in the UAE and the consulate general in Dubai said they contacted the shipping company and related agencies immediately after the incident to confirm the sailors’ safety and request necessary assistance.
The missions said they have maintained regular communication with local authorities to protect and support Korean ships and crews, and pledged to further strengthen coordination so safety measures, including immediate rescue, can be carried out in an emergency.
The Foreign Ministry said it will continue to closely monitor local conditions and maintain tight communication between headquarters and overseas missions while pursuing all necessary steps to ensure the safety of South Korean nationals.
The United States on May 4 launched an operation dubbed “Project Freedom,” escorting civilian vessels with military aircraft and warships to help them pass through the Strait of Hormuz and leave the Gulf (Persian Gulf), the report said.
U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that Iran had fired several times in connection with ship movements related to “Project Freedom,” targeting “irrelevant countries” including a Korean cargo ship, and said it seemed time for South Korea to join the operation.
The Foreign Ministry said the Overseas Nationals Protection Countermeasures Headquarters met at midnight on May 5 under Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jin-a, with seven diplomatic missions in the Middle East and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries attending.
The incident occurred at about 8:40 p.m. on May 4 (Korea time) in waters near the United Arab Emirates, when an explosion and fire broke out on the HMM NAMU, a cargo ship operated by Korean shipping company HMM, the ministry said.
Kim expressed deep concern that it was the first reported damage to a Korean vessel inside the Strait of Hormuz since the outbreak of war in the Middle East.
“Fortunately, there were no casualties this time, but it is important to identify the cause and prevent a recurrence,” Kim said. She added that it is essential to be fully prepared to take swift steps to protect the lives and safety of Korean sailors at any time.
Participants included the South Korean Embassy in the UAE, the Consulate General in Dubai, and the embassies in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Qatar and Oman.
The embassy in the UAE and the consulate general in Dubai said they contacted the shipping company and related agencies immediately after the incident to confirm the sailors’ safety and request necessary assistance.
The missions said they have maintained regular communication with local authorities to protect and support Korean ships and crews, and pledged to further strengthen coordination so safety measures, including immediate rescue, can be carried out in an emergency.
The Foreign Ministry said it will continue to closely monitor local conditions and maintain tight communication between headquarters and overseas missions while pursuing all necessary steps to ensure the safety of South Korean nationals.
The United States on May 4 launched an operation dubbed “Project Freedom,” escorting civilian vessels with military aircraft and warships to help them pass through the Strait of Hormuz and leave the Gulf (Persian Gulf), the report said.
U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that Iran had fired several times in connection with ship movements related to “Project Freedom,” targeting “irrelevant countries” including a Korean cargo ship, and said it seemed time for South Korea to join the operation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.