Iranian Ambassador to Korea Saeed Koozechi arrives at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul, Wednesday, after being summoned over the missile strike on the HMM-operated bulk carrier Namu near the Strait of Hormuz. Yonhap
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Wednesday that the projectile that struck the HMM-operated bulk carrier Namu in the Strait of Hormuz was highly likely an Iranian-made Noor-series anti-ship missile. This photo provided by the ministry shows the engine recovered from the projectile. Courtesy of the ministry
Korea faces a narrow set of realistic options in responding to the likely strike on a Korean-operated vessel by an Iran-linked anti-ship missile near the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month, with experts saying military measures are effectively off the table and diplomatic pressure the only viable path — even as Washington's calls for greater Korean involvement in regional maritime operations grow louder.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Wednesday that a joint government investigation team found strong evidence suggesting the projectile that struck the vessel belonged to Iran’s Noor series of anti-ship missiles. The government cited missile debris, explosive residue and structural analysis of the blast site as part of the basis for its assessment.
