South Korea's presidential Blue House on Monday issued its strongest condemnation of an attack on a commercial cargo vessel this month in the Strait of Hormuz, saying it will respond after investigators determine the source of the strike.
Officials said experts have carried out an initial forensic inspection of damage located at the vessel's lower port stern. That damage was linked to a fire that broke out in the ship's engine room, according to a Blue House official.
The ship involved was the Namu, operated by the South Korean shipper HMM Co. Blue House officials emphasized that Namu was not breaching any rules that applied at the time while it was in waters off the United Arab Emirates, and characterized the incident as an unjustified attack on a commercial vessel.
"We condemn this in the strongest terms," Wi Sung-lac, the South Korean presidential national security adviser, said at a news briefing.
Damage to the vessel was identified during the forensic inspection conducted by South Korean officials and outside experts at a port in Dubai, Wi said. The Blue House official noted that the damage had not been detected immediately following the incident because of its position in the lower port stern.
Officials said it was not known what role, if any, Iran may have played in the attack. The official reiterated that an attribution had not been established. Tehran has previously denied responsibility for the incident, which reportedly involved a strong impact on the side of the vessel.
On Monday the Iranian embassy in South Korea issued a statement saying it did not have any position on the matter at that time, and that it would announce any update or an official position if one became available.
U.S. President Donald Trump commented soon after the incident, saying that Iran had fired at the South Korean vessel and urging Seoul to participate in U.S.-led efforts to secure shipping through the strait.
South Korean authorities have signaled they will await the results of further investigation before deciding how to respond. For now, investigators and officials are focused on confirming the source of the impact and the full extent of the damage identified during the Dubai inspection.