Mounting Evidence Points to Iranian Drone in Attack on Namuho Vessel
by Son Seonhee
Published 12 May.2026 11:25(KST)
Updated 12 May.2026 14:30(KST)
"Strongly Condemns 'Drone Attack Terror' Targeting Korean Vessel"
There is growing speculation that the flying object which attacked a Korean vessel anchored in the Strait of Hormuz may have been an Iranian-made drone. Experts are pointing to the Iranian-made suicide drone "Shahed-136," which Iran supplied to Russia during the Russia-Ukraine war. The government, mindful of the diplomatic repercussions this incident could trigger, is maintaining a restrained response until the detailed analysis results of the debris from the flying object are available.
The Korean government announced that the fire on a Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on the 4th was caused by an unidentified flying object strike.
On the 10th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed the results of the government joint investigation and released photos taken by the on-site investigation team. A 5-meter wide and 7-meter deep hole was confirmed on the lower hull of the vessel.
2026.5.10 Ministry of Foreign Affairs/The Yonhap News Agency
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on May 12, the government is reviewing ways to bring the debris recovered from the scene back to Korea. Although military experts were included in the on-site investigation team, they assessed that it would be difficult to determine the specifications of the flying object by visual inspection alone, and thus a detailed analysis by a specialized institution in Korea is necessary. In this context, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun told reporters on his way to work that morning, "Institutes with relevant expertise will participate in the examination of the debris." Regarding speculation that it was an Iranian-made drone, he maintained a reserved stance, saying, "It is difficult to make a hasty judgment."
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) issued a statement titled "UAE Strongly Condemns Terrorist Attack Against Korean Vessel in the Strait of Hormuz" on this day. The UAE defined the incident as an act of "terrorism" and specifically identified the method as a "drone attack." The UAE stated, "This attack is a clear violation of the United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions," and expressed solidarity with its "brotherly nation, Korea." The Korean government has remained silent about the flying object or the party responsible for the attack. With the United States consistently pressuring Korea to intervene, and more importantly, with 26 Korean vessels still remaining in the strait, the government is exercising caution. Diplomatic channels with Iran are also being kept open.