An explosion and fire struck the South Korean-operated HMM Namu bulk carrier anchored off the UAE near the Strait of Hormuz late on May 4. U.S. President Donald Trump claimed Iran 'shot at' the vessel for going 'it alone' and urged Seoul to join the U.S.-led Project Freedom mission. South Korea's government prioritizes investigating the cause before responding.
An explosion occurred at about 8:40 p.m. Monday (Korean time) in the engine room of the Panama-flagged HMM Namu, anchored off the United Arab Emirates near the Strait of Hormuz. The fire burned for around four hours before crew members extinguished it using carbon dioxide. The vessel, with 24 crew including six South Koreans, sustained heavy damage and requires towing to Dubai; no injuries were reported.
HMM officials stated it remains unclear whether the incident was an external attack or internal malfunction. South Korea's presidential office held a meeting chaired by chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik and said analysis will take several days, dispatching investigators from the Korea Maritime Safety Tribunal and National Fire Agency. Twenty-six Korean ships with 123 sailors remain in nearby waters.
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed Tuesday at the White House that the ship was 'shot at' by Iran after deciding to 'go it alone,' adding, 'Their ship got hell knocked out of it yesterday, but they didn't shoot the ships that were guarded by us.' He noted South Korea imports 43 percent of its oil via the strait and called for joining Project Freedom in a prior social media post.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged South Korea and others to 'step up,' saying, 'The president was clear... this is your ship. You should take part in helping to defend it.' Seoul's office is reviewing the proposal considering Korean Peninsula readiness and legal procedures, sharing information with the U.S., Iran, and Gulf states while directing ships away from the strait.
