S. Korea sends team to probe strike on cargo ship in Strait of Hormuz

By Kim Seung-yeon SEOUL, May 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea sent a technical analysis team to Dubai earlier this week to investigate a recent strike on a Korean-operated cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, the defense ministry said Thursday. The team will "conduct a scientific investigation to determine the case of the incident involving the HMM Namu vessel," the ministry said. The team was dispatched Wednesday. Seoul has been investigating the May 4 explosion and fire on the ship that it has determined to have been caused by a strike by two unidentified flying objects. The suspected attack destroyed the engine room and left a seven-meter-deep puncture on the ship's stern. South Korea has strongly condemned the attack and vowed a thorough investigation to identify the party behind it, while remaining cautious about making any prejudgments about who is responsible.