South Korea blames likely Iranian missile for Hormuz ship attack

South Korea said, on May 27th, that evidence collected from an investigation into an attack on one of its cargo vessels in the Strait of Hormuz strongly suggests the involvement of an Iranian anti-ship missile, as reported by Al-Monitor and agencies on May 27th.

The attack targeted the bulk carrier Namu on May 4th, causing a fire and damaging the ship’s lower stern hull. South Korean officials said investigators found debris aboard the vessel indicating it had been struck twice, with one warhead failing to detonate while another exploded on impact.

Speaking at a government briefing, First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo said several pieces of evidence pointed toward Iran, although Seoul has not conclusively determined who carried out the strike or whether the attack was intentional.

According to the investigation, components recovered from the ship appeared to match Iranian-made missile technology. Officials said the engines resembled Iranian turbojet designs, while one fragment reportedly contained markings linked to an Iranian manufacturer.

Park added that the warheads were similar to those used in Iran’s Noor or Qader anti-ship missile systems.

South Korea said it would summon the Iranian ambassador to deliver the findings of the investigation and formally protest the incident. Seoul will also urge Tehran to take steps to prevent similar attacks in the future.

While the foreign ministry stopped short of directly accusing Iran of deliberately targeting the vessel, a South Korean defence official said the launch of two missiles suggested an intention to inflict damage.

The attack has heightened concerns over security in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes.

Shortly after the incident, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Iran of firing on the South Korean ship and called on Seoul to support U.S.-led efforts aimed at protecting commercial shipping in the region.

Iran has previously denied any involvement in the attack.

Al-Monitor and agencies, Maghrebi.org