South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun announced on Wednesday that information about 26 South Korean vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz was shared not only with Iran but also with the U.S. and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain.
During a plenary session of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, Minister Cho responded to inquiries about sharing vessel information with Iran, stating that it didn’t exclusively provide this information to Iran. To ensure the safety of the ships, it shared it with all nearby GCC countries and the U.S., requesting their assistance in safeguarding the vessels.
This is the first official confirmation from the Foreign Ministry that it has disclosed information about South Korean vessels in the Strait of Hormuz to Iran, the U.S., and GCC countries.
Special Envoy Jeong Byeong-ha, currently on a diplomatic mission to Iran, is reportedly meeting with high-ranking Iranian officials to seek cooperation regarding the safety of South Korean ships and their crew members.
When asked by Kim Ki-woong, a member of the opposition People Power Party, whether there had been any progress on navigation issues, Minister Cho affirmed, Yes, but refrained from providing specific details about the advancements.
The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries reports that 26 South Korean vessels and 169 South Korean citizens are currently stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.