[News Today] “Iran likely behind ship attack”

[LEAD]

The government has said for the first time that Iran was likely behind the attack on the Korean vessel HMM Namu in the Strait of Hormuz. But Seoul says its priority is to secure clear evidence before taking diplomatic action. A Defense Ministry technical analysis team has been sent to the scene, as the government focuses on establishing the facts behind the attack.

[REPORT]

It was found that the stern of HMM Namu was facing the direction of Iran when it was attacked on May 4.

Regarding the two rounds of apparent intentional attacks, the government has for the first time mentioned Iran as the possible perpetrator.

A senior foreign ministry official said that it's unlikely any actor other than Iran was responsible for the attack, adding Tehran would respond when presented with evidence.

As it's unlikely the Iranian government would come forward and apologize, Seoul believes securing irrefutable evidence is the first order of business.

Apart from transporting the debris of the aerial objects that hit the vessel to Korea,

the defense ministry has dispatched a technical analysis team comprising some ten officials to Dubai to inspect the ship's hull.

Lee Kyung-ho / Deputy Spokesperson, Defense Ministry

By verifying facts through evidence analysis and cooperation with other nations, we will support the joint gov’t response team.

A senior official said that once the responsible party is confirmed, the government will launch a diplomatic offensive and is looking into the examples of 33 other countries that experienced similar events.

It's reviewing passive responses such as shown by China and France or the case of Thailand which used their incident as a bargaining chip to secure passage through the strait for its other vessels.

Meanwhile a senior government official said related communication is going on well with Washington, noting this issue should not be linked to the matter of U.S. curbs on intel sharing.