Photo : YONHAP News / AFP
One of 26 South Korean vessels that had been stranded in the Strait of Hormuz has safely passed through the choke point, raising questions about the navigation of the remaining 25 vessels.
Seoul’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday that the tanker that escaped the strait amid Iran’s effective shutdown continues to navigate after passing through the waterway.
It is the first time that a South Korean vessel has left the shipping route after a consultation between Seoul and Tehran, since the U.S. and Israel’s military operation on Iran was launched on February 28.
The ship, named Universal Winner, is said to be carrying two million barrels of crude oil, and is expected to arrive in the southeastern city of Ulsan around June 8.
Amid speculation that Seoul may leverage the attack on the South Korean-operated cargo HMM Namu to secure the passage of the damaged vessel and 24 others, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun told parliament Wednesday that the free navigation of all vessels is not up for negotiation.