Korean Media: [Editorial] The Attack on the NAMU Ship by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Must Be Clearly Held Accountable

On the 19th, Park Seon-won, a member of South Korea’s National Assembly Intelligence Committee and a lawmaker from the Democratic Party, stated regarding the attack on the NAMU ship near the Strait of Hormuz: "It can only have been carried out by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)." He explained that based on the direction of the attack on the stern of the NAMU ship, "(the South Korean government) deduced that Iran fired anti-ship missiles at close range." The location and pattern of the NAMU ship’s attack were "identical" to those suffered by a Thai vessel attacked by the Revolutionary Guard in March. The explosion created a hole measuring 5 meters wide and 7 meters deep on the NAMU ship. This marks the first time the ruling party has explicitly identified both the perpetrator and the weapon used in the attack on the NAMU.

Park Seon-won said: "It could not have been a case of accidental bombing," as attacks conducted continuously at a height of 1.5 to 2.5 meters above the water surface can only be achieved through precise targeting. He added that if the NAMU ship sank due to an engine explosion, it would constitute "evidence destruction," making the situation extremely serious. At the time of the attack, the NAMU ship was stationary at sea near the UAE, meaning there was no possibility of circumstances such as "deviation from designated shipping lanes," which Iranian media have claimed. Yet Iran still targeted a civilian vessel with missiles.

The NAMU ship was attacked on the 4th, coinciding with the U.S. launching operations aimed at rescuing ships trapped in the Strait of Hormuz. On that same day, Iran launched drones and missiles against the UAE, a pro-American nation, as a military response. The attack on the NAMU ship occurred simultaneously. It remains unclear whether Iran was aware the vessel belonged to South Korea when it launched the attack. At the time, Chinese and French vessels were also attacked alongside the NAMU. Given that Iran’s powerful military organization precisely targeted a South Korean civilian ship, South Korea must not let this go unpunished.

Park Seon-won stated: "Our stance toward countries that harm our ships and citizens will inevitably differ." Currently, Iran denies involvement in the attack. South Korea must present irrefutable evidence to prevent future incidents while pursuing compensation from Iran. If Iran fails to show genuine willingness to cooperate, various measures—direct or indirect—must be considered to exert pressure on Iran.

Currently, 26 South Korean vessels and 160 South Korean nationals remain stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. While countries including Britain and France are engaging in dialogue with Iran, they are simultaneously dispatching warships and military forces. South Korea is fully capable of contributing to stability in the Strait of Hormuz. Accountability must be pursued to the fullest extent to prevent recurrence.

Source: Chosun Ilbo

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1865674132023300/

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