Korea Investigates Fire on Ship Near Hormuz Strait

South Korean authorities have begun looking into an explosion and blaze that hit a Korean‑run vessel in the waters near the Strait of Hormuz. The incident happened on Monday while the ship was anchored close to the United Arab Emirates, and it caused damage in the engine room. The crew of 24, which includes six South Koreans, was safe. The ship, named HMM Namu, was towed to a Dubai port where Korean investigators boarded it around 0600 GMT. The probe is still in its early stages, so officials do not yet know how long it will take to reach a conclusion. The event has raised questions about whether the fire was caused by an attack or a malfunction. South Korea is keeping all possibilities open and wants to gather facts before deciding on any action.The situation has political ramifications because the Strait of Hormuz is a key route for about 20 % of global oil and gas shipments. The incident has drawn attention from Washington, where President Trump suggested Iran might have fired at the vessel and urged Korea to join a U. S. escort mission called Project Freedom. Seoul, however, has paused its consideration of that plan after Trump put it on hold. Iran’s embassy in Seoul denied any involvement, labeling the accusations as false. A state‑run Iranian TV channel later aired commentary implying a Korean ship had been targeted, but the embassy said that was not an official statement. South Korea stresses it will carefully examine evidence before taking any steps, whether that means joining U. S. security efforts or pursuing other measures.