South Korea discusses response after bulk carrier explosion in Strait of Hormuz

South Korea's presidential office on Tuesday discussed Seoul's "response" to a fire that broke out following an explosion aboard a bulk carrier operated by a major South Korean shipping company in the Strait of Hormuz, as US President Donald Trump called on Seoul to join a US-led mission in the waterway. A meeting held at the presidential office, attended by Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik and other senior officials, did not immediately disclose details of the discussion to the media.

Incident details

The incident occurred late Monday while the HMM Namu was anchored off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. The blaze originated in the engine room, where crew members battled the fire for about four hours using the ship's carbon dioxide systems. All 24 crew members, comprising six South Koreans and 18 foreign nationals, were confirmed safe. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. An official with HMM Co. said it remains unclear whether the incident was caused by an external attack or an internal malfunction.

Trump's call for mission

Following the incident, Trump urged South Korea to join the Hormuz mission, saying "perhaps it's time for South Korea to come and join the mission." Twenty-six South Korean-flagged ships remain stranded in the strait.

Tensions in the strait

Tensions have escalated as Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that vessels violating transit protocols "will be forcefully stopped." The US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, triggering retaliation from Tehran. Since April 13, the US has enforced a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic. A ceasefire took effect on April 8 through Pakistani mediation, but no lasting agreement was reached.