South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said Thursday that "our tanker is passing through the Strait of Hormuz in consultation with the Iranian side."
Cho made the remarks during a plenary session of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee.
Asked whether the passage of the South Korean vessel was a quid pro quo for negotiations with Iran over identifying the perpetrator behind the recent attack on the Namu, Cho said, "I cannot say that is the case." He added, "The government has maintained from the outset its basic position that all vessels should be allowed free passage, and that such matters cannot involve paying tolls or serving as a means of negotiation."
Asked for information about the vessel currently transiting the strait, Cho said, "I will only confirm, as reported in the media, that it is a tanker," adding, "The vessel will reach a safe area in a few hours, at which point I will provide a detailed explanation."
Earlier, Bloomberg reported that a South Korean very large crude carrier (VLCC) was attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz. If the vessel successfully passes through the strait, it would mark the first transit of the Hormuz Strait among the 26 vessels that have been held in the area since the outbreak of war in the Middle East at the end of February.
