Projectiles struck HMM Namu near Hormuz, Seoul probe finds

South Korea said Sunday that two unidentified airborne objects struck the bulk carrier HMM Namu near the Strait of Hormuz on May 4, with a joint investigation team concluding the vessel was hit by externally launched projectiles.

The Strait of Hormuz is a key global energy shipping route affected by ongoing Middle East tensions. Seoul's finding that a commercial vessel was struck by externally launched projectiles marks a significant escalation in confirmed threats to maritime traffic in the region, The Korea Times reported.

A seven-member South Korean joint investigation team — three maritime safety investigators and four forensic specialists — conducted an on-site inspection and determined the damage was caused by externally launched projectiles, ruling out drifting mines and torpedoes based on the damage pattern and impact height, The Korea Times reported.

The two objects struck the ship's port-side outer hull roughly one minute apart. "The fire is believed to have started after the first strike and rapidly spread following the second impact," Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Park Il said. Investigators found the outer hull damaged across an area about 5 meters wide, with roughly 7 meters of internal penetration.

All 24 crew members aboard the HMM Namu were reported safe. The Panama-flagged bulk carrier was towed to Drydocks World Dubai for inspection and repairs. Investigators found no abnormalities in the engine, generators or boiler systems — a finding that reinforced the conclusion that the fire was triggered by an external source, according to The Korea Times.

South Korean officials briefed the Iranian ambassador after releasing the investigation results. "Iran falls under the category of relevant countries in this matter, and the Iranian ambassador visited the ministry so that we could explain the results of our investigation," Park said. The specific type of projectile used has not been determined. "The exact projectile requires additional investigation," Park said.

Presidential National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac had earlier said it was "not certain" whether the vessel had been attacked. The investigation team reached its conclusion after reviewing surveillance footage, voyage data records and crew testimony from the ship.

Debris including engine fragments recovered at the scene will undergo further analysis as South Korean authorities work to identify the origin and type of the projectiles that struck the vessel on May 4.