Blue House Issues Strong Condemnation After Confirming Attack on HMM Namu

Director Suh Sung-wook Holds Press Briefing at the Blue House

"Two Unidentified Flying Objects Struck at One-Minute Intervals...Low Possibility of Mine or Torpedo Attack"

"Further Investigation Needed for Specific Details...Follow-Up Actions

Suh Sung-wook, Director of the National Security Office, stated regarding the attack on the HMM Namuho in the Strait of Hormuz, "The government maintains that attacks on civilian vessels, including the HMM Namuho, cannot be justified or tolerated," and added, "We strongly condemn this act." This marks the first time that the Blue House has officially acknowledged the attack on the Namuho and issued a statement on the matter. Meanwhile, following the announcement of the investigative team's findings at the Namuho site, President Lee Jae-myung is said to have instructed officials to make every effort to ensure the safety of overseas nationals and assets in accordance with international principles and standards of international law.

Director Suh held a press briefing at the Blue House Chunchugwan on the 11th, reiterating the previous day's Ministry of Foreign Affairs briefing, and explained, "Two unidentified aerial objects struck the outer hull of the vessel twice at one-minute intervals, and following the impact, fire and smoke were observed. At the time of the incident, the ship sustained damage approximately 1 to 1.5 meters above the waterline." He further stated, "Considering the pattern and form of the damage caused by the blast pressure, the possibility of a mine or torpedo attack appears to be low." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously announced the findings of the joint government investigation team on the HMM Namuho site investigation following a National Security Council (NSC) working-level coordination meeting the previous day.

However, Director Suh said that additional investigation is required regarding the specific details of the perpetrators and the aerial objects. He explained, "More precise information on the aerial objects requires further investigation," and added, "The government intends to identify the perpetrators, the exact model, and the physical size of the objects through additional investigation." In relation to this, a senior Blue House official said, "Some debris from the aerial object has been identified," and confirmed, "We are in possession of it." However, the official noted, "Although an initial examination has been conducted, a more specialized investigation is necessary," indicating that additional analysis is required. Regarding the debris, it was explained, "A more thorough analysis would require disassembling the debris and conducting physical and chemical tests."

The government plans to consider follow-up measures based on the results of the additional investigation. Director Suh stated, "We will consider any necessary measures in accordance with the results of further investigation." The Blue House’s stance designates the Namuho incident as an attack by an external aerial object rather than a simple accident, yet maintains a cautious approach in identifying the perpetrator. The clear message of condemnation against attacks on civilian ships appears to reflect an intention to avoid escalating diplomatic and security tensions without confirmation of those responsible.

A senior Blue House official said, "It is difficult to take any action or make a determination in advance based on assumptions," and added, "We will respond appropriately once a clear assessment is made." The official further stated, "The measures we intend to take will not differ significantly from the common-sense responses that other countries would employ in similar situations."

The Blue House has, for now, drawn a line regarding any possible connection to Iran. A senior Blue House official stated, "Whether Iran is involved is currently an unknown domain," and explained, "No country has been identified, and we are assessing all possibilities." Regarding the previous day's meeting between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Iranian Ambassador to Korea, the official clarified, "It was not a summons but a consultation."

In response to Iranian media reports suggesting possible violations of navigation rules by the Namuho, the senior official countered, "Investigation results indicate that the HMM Namuho was not attacked while making any particular movements." He added, "The HMM Namuho was anchored. It was stationary and not moving. After relocating slightly farther from its original position in the strait, it remained stationary since April 30. As it was stationary for several days, it cannot be said that any rules were violated."

When asked whether the government initially underestimated the possibility of an attack, the official responded, "It's not that we concluded it wasn't an attack," and explained, "We hesitated to determine it as an attack and decided to withhold judgment pending further investigation." The official continued, "Since incorrect judgment could have consequences, we believed it was appropriate to defer our conclusion and conduct a detailed investigation. Ultimately, the site investigation teams provided professional analytical reports, based on which we were able to make a determination."

The official also explained the process of analyzing the CCTV footage, stating, "There was CCTV on the hull facing the stern, and we referred to much of the footage," and added, "The Marine Safety Tribunal initially secured the CCTV data, and due to procedural requirements, it took time to share."

Additionally, Director Suh stated that the government will strengthen measures to prevent recurrence and enhance ship safety. He said, "We will continue close communication with relevant agencies to prevent such incidents from recurring and intensify efforts to ensure the safety of all our ships and crew members located near the strait." He added, "We will continue to participate in international efforts to guarantee the safety and free passage of all vessels, including ours."

However, the Blue House maintained a cautious stance on directly linking participation in U.S.-led maritime security initiatives to this incident. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital route for South Korea’s oil supply and the global maritime logistics network. Following the Namuho attack, there has been growing attention on the extent of the government's future participation in international discussions on protecting maritime transportation routes. A senior Blue House official commented, "We are examining the issue of participating in all efforts to ensure free and safe passage through the strait," and added, "It is too early to say whether this case brings us closer to or further from any proposed regime."

Regarding the ships that were near the Namuho at the time, the official explained, "Some vessels, including those belonging to HMM, were gathered in a certain area, but after this incident, judging that the area might be unsafe, they moved. It is presumed that they moved closer toward the United Arab Emirates (UAE) coast."