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SEOUL — Five more South Korean-operated vessels have exited the Strait of Hormuz, bringing the total number of ships that have left the region to 11, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Thursday. The ships safely passed through the strategic waterway and are sailing normally, according to the ministry.

Coverage Comparison

The reports from Yonhap News, the sole wire service covering the story, show a progressive improvement in the situation for South Korean shipping. On June 22, two vessels cleared the strait following the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, leaving 22 South Korean-linked ships inside. By June 25, five more had exited, reducing the number to 13, with officials noting that half of the 26 ships that had been stranded had now transited the waterway. By July 1, another vessel had left, leaving just two South Korea-linked ships in the Persian Gulf.

The framing of the reports has shifted from a neutral announcement of departures to a more optimistic tone, with ministry officials expressing expectations that the remaining ships could soon follow. The pace of transit has accelerated since Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding, with 11 of the 13 vessels clearing the strait in the three days leading up to June 25.

Key Claims

  • Five more South Korean-operated vessels exited the Strait of Hormuz as of June 25, bringing the total to 11. These ships carried 21 South Korean sailors, and one was bound for South Korea.
  • The number of South Korean-linked ships remaining in the strait fell to 13 as of June 25, with 87 South Korean sailors still in the Persian Gulf, including 54 aboard South Korean-operated vessels and 33 on foreign-flagged ships.
  • Tehran has agreed to allow vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz without any fees for 60 days following the signing of the interim pact.
  • As of July 1, only two South Korea-linked vessels remained in the Persian Gulf: the HMM Namu, which sustained damage in Iranian-linked missile attacks and is undergoing repairs at a port in Dubai, and one other ship. The HMM Namu is expected to leave the strait in late July after repairs are completed.
  • The vehicle carrier that cleared the strait on July 1 was bound for South Korea and had six Korean sailors on board.
  • The ministry conducted real-time monitoring and provided diplomatic and navigation assistance, together with the foreign ministry, to help the ships safely pass through the waterway.
  • Officials noted that South Korean ships have been moving through the strait at a relatively faster pace than vessels from some other countries, attributing it in part to Seoul's continued diplomatic engagement with Tehran throughout the conflict.