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SEOUL, May 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Thursday maintained a cautious stance over the cause of a recent explosion and fire aboard a South Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that a fact-finding investigation must come before reaching any conclusion.
A special South Korean government team has been sent to Dubai to investigate the cause of a now-extinguished fire on the HMM Namu, a Panama-flagged cargo ship operated by South Korean shipping firm HMM Co., while it was stranded in the conflict-hit strait on Monday.
"At this point, what is needed first is to determine the facts and identify the cause," an official at Seoul's foreign ministry said. "That is why an investigation team has been dispatched to the scene, and decisions on future responses should come afterward."
The vessel is currently being towed and will be moved to a dry dock in Dubai for a detailed investigation.
This photo, released by South Korean shipper HMM Co. on May 6, 2026, shows the company's Panama-flagged bulk carrier, Namu. The shipper said the same day it has secured a boat to tow the carrier to a port in Dubai after an explosion and fire damaged the ship on May 4, when it operated inside the conflict-hit Strait of Hormuz. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Various theories have emerged over the cause of the incident, with some observers having suggested the blast may have resulted from an external impact, while others have questioned whether the ship was struck externally.
The confusion deepened after Iran's state-run Press TV published a commentary piece implying that targeting a South Korean vessel that violated maritime rules could constitute a sovereign right, though it did not provide evidence.
In response, the Iranian Embassy in Seoul said the piece was merely an analytical commentary written by an external analysis desk and not based on confirmed operational records.
The embassy added that speculative media reports should not be regarded as official government positions until credible investigation results are released.
The Seoul foreign ministry official declined to comment on the Iranian media report, reiterating that establishing facts and determining the cause remain the top priority.
The official added that Seoul has been communicating with Tehran since the incident occurred and said Iran's position is clearly reflected in the embassy's statement.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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