▲ Shown in this photo, provided by the foreign ministry on May 27, 2026, is a display image of a Noor-series anti-ship missile, which is believed to have struck the HMM Namu in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
▲ Iranian Ambassador to South Korea Saeed Koozechi (front, C) leaves the foreign ministry building in Seoul on May 27, 2026, after the ministry called him in over an attack against a South Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. (Yonhap)
▲ A bulk container ship operated by South Korean shipper HMM Co. is docked at a port in Dubai in this file photo taken May 9, 2026, after being damaged from a fire following an explosion in the Strait of Hormuz. (Yonhap)
▲ Shown in this photo, provided by the foreign ministry on May 27, 2026, is an electronic circuit board of a missile that struck the HMM Namu in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
▲ This photo, released by the foreign ministry on May 10, 2026, shows a 7-meter-wide rupture in the hull of a South Korean-operated vessel, the Panama-flagged cargo vessel Namu, operated by South Korean shipping firm HMM Co. South Korea has concluded that a strike by "unidentified airborne objects" caused the explosion and fire aboard the vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. (Yonhap)

(5th LD) S Korean vessel-Hormuz attack

(5th LD) Iran-linked missiles behind attack on S. Korean vessel in Hormuz: foreign ministry

(ATTN: ADDS comments from Iranian envoy in paras 10-13, photo)

By Oh Seok-min

SEOUL, May 27 (Yonhap) -- Anti-ship missiles developed and used by Iran are believed to have been used in an attack against a South Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.

The ministry, however, reserved a decision on which actor in Iran launched the attack or whether it was intentional.

"Technical analysis concluded that the unidentified airborne objects were likely Noor-series anti-ship missiles developed by Iran," First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo said at a press briefing announcing the outcome of the government's weekslong probe into the incident.

The ministry earlier said the ship, HMM Namu, operated by major South Korean shipping company HMM Co., was hit by "two unidentified airborne objects" on May 4 while stranded in the crucial waterway amid the U.S.-Iran conflict.

A government investigation team has since conducted an in-depth analysis of engine debris recovered from the objects to determine their nature and identify those responsible for the incident.

According to the probe, the first warhead failed to detonate, while the second detonated on impact. The missiles are used by the Iranian navy, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and pro-Iran groups.

The conclusion on the type of the objects was based on an analysis of the engines, warheads, explosive materials and airframes recovered from the vessel.

Though the government was unable to confirm the launch site, the exact perpetrator or intent of the attack, Park said, "Multiple pieces of evidence point toward Iran."

"With regard to intent, it is extremely difficult to reach a definitive conclusion, as it is a subjective matter and cannot be established unless acknowledged by the responsible party," he added.

The ministry later summoned Iranian Ambassador to South Korea Saeed Koozechi to deliver a strong protest over the attack on a South Korean vessel, while demanding "responsible measures, including steps to prevent a recurrence," Park said.

Speaking to reporters at the ministry building in Seoul after the meeting, Koozechi denied Iran's involvement in the attack.

"Iran denies all allegations regarding this matter," he said through an interpreter. "We were absolutely not involved (in the attack)."

"Personally, I would like to express my regret over the damage suffered by the Korean vessel," he added.

When asked whether he accepted the South Korean government's findings or whether the Iranian government would issue an apology, Koozechi again denied any involvement in the incident, saying, "We must be wary of false flag operations by hostile countries."

The attack caused an explosion and fire aboard the ship, leaving one of the 24 crew members with minor injuries.

Shortly after the attack, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Iran had "taken some shots" at the HMM vessel and other targets, but the Iranian Embassy in Seoul has stressed that Tehran "firmly and categorically" denies any involvement by its military in the incident.

The HMM Namu is currently undergoing repairs in the United Arab Emirates.

Iran has effectively choked off passage through the Strait of Hormuz amid the conflict that began late February following the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.

The HMM Namu and 25 other vessels had been stranded in the strategic chokepoint, but a South Korean oil tanker operated by HMM passed through the waterway last week, marking the first case involving a Korean-managed vessel since the outbreak of the conflict.

(END)

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