'Namu-ho Hit by Flying Object' Blue House Closely Monitoring Response Direction... "NSC Working-Level Meeting Held"

Details of the meeting not disclosed
Government closely watching future response
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "No speculation on perpetrator"... Further investigation announced
Iranian Ambassador to Korea summoned to explain investigation r

As it has been confirmed that the fire on the HMM Namu-ho while anchored in the Strait of Hormuz was caused by an “unidentified flying object,” the Blue House remains cautious in its public statements and is closely monitoring the government’s next steps. With confirmation of an external strike, there is growing interest in whether this will alter the government’s previously careful stance regarding the deployment of military assets to the Strait of Hormuz.

On the 29th, as President Lee Jae-myung arrived at the Blue House, the phoenix flag was hoisted at the Blue House in Seoul, marking the official resumption of the Blue House era after three years and seven months. 2025.12.29 Photo by Jo Yongjun

On May 10, the Blue House announced that, following the release of the joint government investigation results, a working-level coordination meeting of the National Security Council (NSC), attended by relevant ministries, was held to discuss the incident involving the Korean vessel Namu-ho.

However, the specific contents of the meeting were not released. The Blue House also did not issue a separate statement regarding the investigation results. Since it has been confirmed that the Korean vessel suffered damage from an external flying object, the administration appears to be maintaining a cautious approach in light of the seriousness of the issue, especially as the party responsible for the attack has not been identified.

Previously, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also refrained from drawing conclusions about who was responsible for the attack when announcing the results of the joint investigation. The ministry stated, “We will not speculate on the perpetrator,” and emphasized that further investigation is needed into the type of unidentified flying object, the entity that launched it, and the launch location.

According to the government’s investigation, the Namu-ho, which was anchored near the Strait of Hormuz on the 4th, was struck twice on its port stern by two unidentified flying objects. The two impacts occurred about one minute apart, and the fire rapidly intensified after the second strike.

The investigation team analyzed the cause of the fire based on evidence of hull damage, voyage data recorder (VDR) information, closed-circuit (CC) TV footage, and crew testimonies. At the scene, a breach and evidence of an external impact were confirmed at the stern. However, details such as the model of the flying object, its launch site, and the intention behind the attack have yet to be conclusively identified.

Ambassador Saed Kouzehchi, Iranian Ambassador to Korea, is leaving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the Seoul Government Complex on the 10th after being summoned regarding the HMM Namu-ho incident in the Strait of Hormuz. Photo by Yonhap News

Additionally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reportedly summoned the Iranian Ambassador to Korea to explain the results of the investigation and deliver related information. While the government has stated that it will communicate with relevant countries and consider necessary measures, at this stage there is a tendency to refrain from making public statements targeting any specific country or group.

The Blue House’s immediate convening of the NSC working-level coordination meeting appears to reflect concerns that the incident could escalate from a simple vessel fire to a broader diplomatic and security issue. It is believed that the meeting covered matters such as sharing the investigation’s findings, ensuring the safety of the vessel and crew, establishing measures for safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and coordinating with relevant countries.

With the publication of the investigation results, the level of government response is once again expected to become a key issue. The government has consistently maintained the principle that the safety of international maritime routes and freedom of navigation must be ensured. However, as the United States calls for an expanded Korean role under the pretext of stabilizing maritime routes in the Middle East — including the Strait of Hormuz — and with direct damage to a Korean vessel now confirmed, the government’s deliberations are likely to intensify.

The fire incident involving a Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on the 4th was caused by an unidentified flying object, the government announced. On the 10th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released the results of a joint government investigation, revealing photos recorded by the on-site inspection team. A breach measuring 5 meters wide and 7 meters deep was confirmed on the lower hull. (Courtesy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Photo by Yonhap News

Nevertheless, the Blue House’s prevailing stance is to prioritize further investigation and analysis until the party responsible for the attack and their intentions are clearly identified. In consideration of the potential impact that a hasty response could have on the situation in the Middle East, Korea-U.S. cooperation, and diplomatic relations with Iran, the Blue House is expected to determine its future course of action after closely monitoring additional investigation results and the reactions of relevant countries.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.