Cho Hyun Suggests "Possibility of Iranian Militia" as Party Behind Korean Vessel Attack

Cho Hyun, Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated on the 13th regarding the party responsible for the attack on a Korean vessel anchored in the Strait of Hormuz, "Even if we consider only Iran, there are various possible entities that could have launched such an object (aircraft)," adding, "It could also be a militia group." This is the first time the possibility has been raised that the attack may have been carried out by an armed group separate from the Iranian regular military forces.

Cho Hyun, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On his way to work at the Seoul Government Complex that morning, Minister Cho met with reporters and said, "It is difficult to specify at this point," but added, "I am saying that (including militia groups) such a possibility exists." In Iran, aside from the regular army under military command, it is known that there are various armed groups, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and pro-Iranian militia forces.

Experts are pointing to an Iranian-made suicide drone, based on the damage marks visible on the exterior of the vessel. However, even if the specifications of the aircraft are identified, it remains uncertain whether it will be possible to precisely determine the party responsible for the attack. The Iranian side, which had officially denied any connection to this incident, has reportedly not made any clear statement since the Korean government announced the attack on the vessel on the 10th and shared the findings from the on-site investigation. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly stated that communication with the Iranian side is being maintained.

The government plans to bring the wreckage of the aircraft engine retrieved from the site to Korea for detailed analysis. Minister Cho did not specify a concrete timeline for the engine's arrival in Korea, but indicated a sense of urgency, saying, "It needs to arrive as soon as possible."

Meanwhile, the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plans to hold a plenary session on the 19th, as agreed by both ruling and opposition parties, to conduct an inquiry into the incident involving the attack on the Korean vessel.

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