South Korea is set to summon the Iranian ambassador in Seoul in connection with an explosion that occurred earlier this month involving a South Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing CNN, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the decision. The incident, which involved an explosion and subsequent fire on the ship, has prompted a formal diplomatic response.
US President Donald Trump previously alleged that Iran had "fired" upon the vessel, an accusation that Tehran has consistently denied. South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Pak Yun-chu stated that an investigation, which included the analysis of recovered missile fragments, suggests the ship was likely struck twice by Iranian-made Noor-series anti-ship missiles, though only one detonated. Pak noted, however, that determining whether the attack was intentional remains difficult.
The vessel, which was sailing under a Panamanian flag, carried a crew of 24, including six South Korean nationals, and was positioned off the coast of the UAE prior to the explosion. South Korean diplomatic sources indicated that the missile casing featured a characteristic light-blue color consistent with the Noor series, with markings on certain components pointing toward an Iranian manufacturer. Iran has yet to officially respond to these findings, having previously denied any involvement in the incident.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime chokepoint, through which a significant portion of the world's oil supply passes. Tensions in the region have historically impacted global energy markets and international maritime security, making incidents involving commercial vessels in these waters a matter of significant geopolitical concern.
