Photo : YONHAP News
The government has concluded that a long-range anti-ship cruise missile developed by Iran was likely behind the May 4 attack on the South Korean-operated cargo ship the HMM Namu in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a briefing on Wednesday, First Vice Foreign Minister Park Yoon-joo said the government investigation into the attack found that the debris recovered from the aerial objects that hit the HMM Namu bore a close resemblance to Iranian-made turbojet engines and parts found among the remnants bore marks believed to be from an Iranian manufacturer.
Park added that technical analysis found that the unidentified aerial objects that hit the South Korean ship are highly likely to be Noor anti-ship cruise missiles developed by Iran.
The vice minister said the objects flew toward the ship’s stern for six to seven minutes.
Park was quick to add, however, that the investigators were unable to confirm the origin of the launch or say whether it was intentional.
The government plans to summon the Iranian ambassador to South Korea soon to explain the findings and demand a guarantee that there will be no recurrence.