Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung was briefed Wednesday on a recent blast incident involving a South Korean-operated freight ship stranded in the Strait of Hormuz and the latest development in the Middle East conflict.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun briefed Lee on the incident at a Cabinet meeting, two days after a blast and fire were reported aboard the vessel, Namu, operated by major South Korean shipping firm HMM Co. while anchored in waters off the United Arab Emirates. The fire began in the engine room and was extinguished by the crew members, with no injuries reported.
Providing details of the incident, Cho informed Lee that the affected vessel would be moved to a nearby port to assess the extent of the damage. The foreign minister also briefed Lee on U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to temporarily suspend "Project Freedom," a U.S. operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
Lee briefly inquired whether Trump had indicated an intention to end the war, to which Cho answered affirmatively, suggesting the move might be aimed at either evading the 60-day limit on waging war without congressional approval or seeking a genuine exit strategy. The president acknowledged the information without further comment.
Although Trump has claimed that the South Korean-operated vessel was "shot at" by Iran after it decided to "go it alone," South Korea has yet to determine the cause of the blast and subsequent fire. The incident occurred amid Trump's increasing calls for Seoul to join the "Project Freedom" campaign.
Cheong Wa Dae announced Tuesday that it was reviewing U.S. proposals regarding the Strait of Hormuz while considering domestic legal procedures, but emphasized that efforts to determine the cause of the ship fire would be prioritized.