Translation result.
The U.S. has launched \”Operation Freedom,\” deploying warships and aircraft to escort civilian vessels stuck in the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz. During the operation, a vessel operated by a South Korean carrier suffered an explosion and fire inside the strait; Seoul is investigating.
According to the Foreign Ministry, at about 8:40 p.m. KST on the 4th, an explosion ignited a fire aboard HMM NAMU, a Panama‑flagged ship operated by a Korean carrier, while it was anchored in Hormuz waters near the United Arab Emirates.
The ship had 24 crew members on board — six South Korean and 18 foreign nationals — and there are no reported casualties so far.
The Foreign Ministry said it is probing the cause and extent of the damage and will coordinate closely with relevant countries to secure the safety of the ship and its crew.
Yonhap News Agency reported that HMM said an unexplained blast occurred near the port side of the engine room, sparking the fire. Crew members conducted onboard firefighting and no injuries have been reported.
Officials are also examining whether the incident is linked to military exchanges tied to Operation Freedom. With tensions high between the U.S. and Iran, analysts have raised the possibility the vessel was struck, but the government has not confirmed an attack.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries says 26 South Korean‑flagged vessels remain inside the Strait of Hormuz, including nine tankers and several car carriers. A total of 160 crew members are in the area — 123 on South Korean‑flagged ships and 37 on foreign‑flagged vessels.
Those ships and crew have been unable to leave the waters for the past two months amid Iran’s ongoing blockade of the strait.
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