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Investigators have concluded that the fire aboard the HMM freighter Namu, which had been anchored near the Strait of Hormuz, was caused by strikes from an unidentified aerial vehicle. The finding has put the South Korean government and the Blue House (the presidential office) under pressure to determine an appropriate response.
On May 10, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released the results of a joint on-site probe, saying its team determined that at about 3:30 p.m. local time on May 4, two unidentified aerial vehicles struck the Namu’s stern port ballast tank outer plating twice at roughly one-minute intervals.
The government dispatched three investigators from the Korea Maritime Safety Tribunal and four forensic specialists from the National Fire Agency to Dubai. They conducted a detailed inspection of the Namu after it was towed to Dubai Port on May 8. Reviewing CCTV, interviewing the captain and examining the hull interior and exterior, the team concluded that an external attack was likely.
Investigators reported the port-side stern outer plating was damaged across a roughly 5-meter-wide area and penetrated about 7 meters into the hull. Internal frames were bent inward while the outer plating had bulged and deformed outward.
The Foreign Ministry said the strikes were followed by vibration, flames and smoke. The engine-room fire appears to have ignited after the first hit and then spread rapidly following the second.
Officials found no anomalies in internal systems such as the engine, generators or boilers. They identified the ignition point at a perforation on the top plating of the ballast tank.
But the government has been cautious about naming a perpetrator or the exact type of aerial vehicle involved.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Park Il told an emergency briefing that while CCTV captured the aerial vehicle, the footage is limited and does not allow confirmation of who launched it, its precise model, or its physical size. He said investigators will analyze engine debris recovered at the scene. He added that additional analysis is needed to determine whether the weapon was a drone or a missile, and officials will refrain from speculation about the attacker while the probe continues.
Investigators judged a mine or torpedo attack unlikely, noting the damaged area sat about 1 to 1.5 meters above the waterline and the damage pattern did not match blast-pressure effects typical of underwater explosive weapons.
Shortly before the investigation results were released, Iran’s ambassador to South Korea visited the Foreign Ministry building and met the First Vice Foreign Minister, the ministry said. Park said the ambassador sought an explanation because Iran is a relevant party to the probe.
The Blue House has so far held back from issuing a formal statement and is monitoring the situation closely. The government had previously said it would withhold conclusions until the probe was complete, but with official confirmation of external attack indicators, analysts say Seoul’s diplomatic and security posture could shift.
Analysts warn that if investigators ultimately identify Iran or Iran-aligned militias as the attackers, pressure may grow over issues such as U.S. calls for security cooperation in Middle East waters and participation in the Maritime Freedom Coalition (MFC).
Park said Seoul will thoroughly determine the cause and pursue all possible measures, including international cooperation, to prevent recurrence. He added the government is carefully reviewing participation in the U.S.-led Maritime Freedom Coalition (MFC).
For now, however, Seoul says it has not confirmed the attackers’ intent or any sponsoring actors. Officials plan to set the response level after additional forensic work and consultations with relevant countries.
The Namu had been anchored near the Strait of Hormuz since late February amid rising military tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran. On May 4, an explosion and fire erupted in the port side of the engine room, forcing the vessel out of service.
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