Korea weighs joining US Hormuz mission after cargo vessel struck

South Korea's government said Sunday it is actively reviewing whether to join a U.S.-led maritime security coalition in the Strait of Hormuz after an official investigation confirmed that two unidentified flying objects struck a South Korean-operated cargo vessel on May 5, causing a fire and a seven-meter hull rupture.

The strike on the HMM Co.-operated Namu left all 24 crew members unharmed but exposed the vulnerability of South Korean shipping in one of the world's most strategically vital waterways, intensifying debate in Seoul over its longstanding policy of staying out of U.S.-led military operations in the Persian Gulf region, the Korea Times reported.

A seven-member South Korean government investigation team traveled to Dubai — where the Namu had been towed after the incident — and confirmed the vessel was struck by two flying objects in succession in the Strait of Hormuz, the Korea Times reported. The impacts triggered an explosion, sparked a fire and tore a seven-meter-wide rupture in the hull. All 24 crew members, including six South Korean nationals, escaped without injury.

The Namu is a Panama-flagged cargo vessel operated by South Korean shipping firm HMM Co. Investigators said they could not determine the exact model or size of the objects that struck the ship, and South Korea's Foreign Ministry has not assigned responsibility for the attack.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Park Il said after the investigation findings were announced that the government was committed to preventing a repeat. "The government will pursue every possible measure, including cooperation with the international community to prevent a recurrence," Park said, according to the Korea Times. Asked specifically about Washington's coalition, Park confirmed that "a close review is under way on the issue of joining U.S. plans."

Seoul is weighing both combat and non-combat options. The Defense Ministry said it would factor in multiple considerations before reaching a decision. "We will carefully review our position, taking into account international law, the safety of international sea lanes, the South Korea-U.S. alliance, security conditions on the Korean Peninsula and domestic legal procedures," the ministry said, according to the Korea Times. Non-combat measures under discussion include intelligence sharing and the dispatch of liaison officers.

If South Korea opts for a military contribution, the Cheonghae Unit — currently conducting anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden — would likely be redeployed to the Hormuz strait. Any such military deployment would require approval from South Korea's National Assembly. U.S. President Donald Trump had previously claimed Iran had "taken some shots" following the initial explosion aboard the Namu, though Seoul has not confirmed that account.

South Korea has historically been cautious about joining U.S.-led military operations in the Middle East, balancing alliance commitments against its primary security focus on the Korean Peninsula. The confirmed attack on the Namu has brought that long-deferred calculation sharply into focus.