Blue House condemns strike on cargo vessel but cautious on naming attacke...

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac speaks during a press briefing at the Blue House in central Seoul on May 11. [NEWS1]

The Blue House on Monday condemned what it called an “unjustifiable and intolerable” attack on the Korean-operated cargo vessel HMM Namu after an investigation found the vessel was struck near the Strait of Hormuz.

“Our government’s position is that attacks on civilian vessels, including the Namu, can never be justified or tolerated,” said National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac during a briefing on Monday.

“Two unidentified aerial objects struck the outer hull near the stern of the Namu twice at roughly one minute intervals,” Wi said. “The impact resulted in flames and smoke accompanied by vibrations.”

“Considering that the damage was found about 1 to 1.5 meters (3.2 to 4.9 feet) above sea level at the time of the incident, as well as the pattern of destruction, the possibility that the vessel was hit by a sea mine or torpedo appears low,” he said.

“Further investigation would be needed to determine more precise details about the aerial objects involved,” Wi said. “We will continue investigating to identify the party responsible for the attack, the exact type of aircraft involved and their physical sizes.”

The security adviser also noted that future response measures would depend on the outcome of the investigation.

“The [Korean] government will step up efforts to prevent similar incidents from recurring by coordinating with relevant countries and strengthening safety measures for Korean vessels and crew members operating near the strait,” Wi said. “Korea will continue to participate in international efforts to ensure the safety and freedom of navigation for all vessels, including our own.”

However, the Blue House is intentionally refraining from publicly identifying the party that launched the attack at this moment even though “it is clear that attacks on civilian merchant vessels are subject to condemnation,” according to an anonymous senior presidential official.

“The government is in the process of identifying the offender. Once we make a judgment, we will respond accordingly,” the official said.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.