South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun emphasized on May 14 that attacks on civilian vessels, including the HMM cargo ship Namoo, cannot be justified under any circumstances. He stated that the government will continue to consult with relevant countries regarding the incident.
During a press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jongno, Seoul, Cho announced that the government will conduct a further investigation into the attack on the Namoo and take necessary response measures.
A senior official from the ministry noted that the wreckage was initially at the consulate in Dubai and has now been moved to the UAE embassy in Abu Dhabi, with plans to return it to Korea as soon as possible. "Once we have the wreckage, I believe our specialized investigation agency at the Ministry of National Defense will conduct a thorough examination to uncover various details," the official said.
Regarding the CCTV footage that reportedly captured the incident, the official mentioned, "The shipowner has stated they will not release it for various reasons, so I have not seen it yet. While there are currently differing opinions, we hope to persuade them to make the footage public, and it may become part of the investigation process."
Cho also stated that the ministry will closely monitor the developments of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the changes in international order following the war, ensuring that the impact on South Korean citizens and national interests is thoroughly addressed. He pledged to transform various crises into opportunities through proactive and multifaceted efforts.
He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is maintaining close cooperation and communication with major countries to secure the safety of South Korean sailors and uphold the principles of international maritime law and freedom of navigation.
Reflecting on the achievements of the Lee Jae-myung administration in its first year, Cho noted that the government began with participation in the G7 summit, followed by visits to 15 countries and over 45 summits, as well as participation in the UN General Assembly, ASEAN summit, and G20 summit, culminating in the successful hosting of the APEC summit in Gyeongju. "Our diplomacy has been racing to establish a foundation for practical diplomacy centered on national interests, beyond just the successful return of democratic South Korea to the international community," he remarked.
Regarding South Korea-U.S. relations, Cho highlighted the announcement of a tariff agreement and a joint fact sheet on strategic cooperation, which turned economic challenges into opportunities. He also mentioned progress in acquiring nuclear submarines and capabilities for peaceful enrichment and reprocessing.
On relations with China and Japan, he noted the successful state visit of the Chinese president after 11 years and the South Korean president's state visit to China earlier this year, which facilitated mutual state visits in the shortest time possible, fully restoring South Korea-China relations. He also mentioned the rapid restoration of shuttle diplomacy with Japan, resulting in six active summits to establish a future-oriented cooperative relationship addressing common social issues, advanced technology, and supply chain collaboration.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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