Seoul cannot identify objects that struck Korean ship in Hormuz

South Korea's presidential office said Tuesday it cannot yet determine the type of airborne objects that struck a Korean-operated cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz last week, pushing back on domestic media reports linking the attack to Iranian-made drones.

The unresolved strike on the HMM Namu raises concerns about the security of South Korean commercial vessels navigating one of the world's most critical shipping chokepoints, as debris from the scene is transported to Seoul for forensic analysis.

Cheong Wa Dae, the South Korean presidential office, publicly contradicted local news accounts claiming the HMM Namu had been targeted by HESA Shahed 136 drones, a weapon type associated with Iran. "For now, the type of the airborne objects cannot be determined," the presidential office said, according to The Korea Times.

The HMM Namu is a Panama-flagged cargo vessel operated by South Korean shipping company HMM. The ship was struck in the Strait of Hormuz last Monday, May 5. The narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman carries a substantial share of global energy and commercial cargo.

The presidential office outlined the scope of its ongoing inquiry. "(The government) plans to identify who carried out the attack, the exact type and the size (of the objects) through further investigations," Cheong Wa Dae said, The Korea Times reported.

Engine debris recovered at the scene is being flown to South Korea for forensic examination. Investigators expect the analysis to clarify both the nature of the objects and their origin. The government's statement did not include details on crew casualties or the current condition of the vessel.

As of Tuesday, South Korea had not publicly identified a suspect or stated a motive for the attack. The investigation remains open pending results from the debris analysis.