[News Today] First Korean ship passes Hormuz Strait

[LEAD]

A Korean oil tanker stranded in the Strait of Hormuz passed through yesterday with Iran's cooperation. It's the first South Korean-flagged vessel to transit the strait since the Middle East conflict began. The government says no payment was made to Iran, and that the passage was not negotiated in connection with the attack on HMM Namu.

[REPORT]

This is HMM's oil tanker 'Universal Winner' which has around 20 people on board including 9 Koreans.

In early March, it was set to transport two million barrels of crude oil from Kuwait to Ulsan but got stranded as the Strait of Hormuz was blocked amid the Iran war.

The Iranian government, which has been silent to Korea's request for passage, informed Seoul on Monday night that Universal Winner can now pass through the strait.

The ship then departed near Qatar in the early hours of Tuesday and reached waters off Dubai Wednesday morning. It then passed south of Larak Island through the Strait of Hormuz, a route proposed by Iran, and entered the safe waters of the Gulf of Oman.

It marks the first passage through the strait by a South Korean-flagged vessel and it's expected to arrive at its destination Ulsan on June 8.

Regarding the possibility that Tehran may have changed its stance due to the HMM Namu attack incident, the government said it's unrelated.

It also noted that while the route suggested by Iran was used, no toll or other form of payment was made.

Cho Hyun / Minister of Foreign Affairs

All vessels must have freedom of passage. We’ve maintained passage should not be subject to tolls or used as a bargaining chip.

It said the passage was also discussed with the U.S. and is not subject to U.S. sanctions.

The government stressed it will continue to request to Iran for the passage of the remaining 25 Korean vessels through the strait.