Jang Dong-hyeok, right, chief of the main opposition People Power Party, speaks during a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
Rival parties stood at odds Monday over the government's response to a strike on a Korean-operated cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, with the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) accusing the government of downplaying what it called an Iranian attack.
Tensions between the ruling and opposition parties escalated after a Korean investigation team concluded that two "unidentified airborne objects" caused an explosion and fire aboard the Panama-flagged cargo vessel HMM Namu, operated by Korean shipping firm HMM, in the conflict-hit strait last week.
"Our government earlier insisted there were low chances that the vessel had come under attack," PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok said during a meeting of the party's supreme council, slamming the government for failing to identify Iran as being behind the attack.
"Now that the strike has been confirmed, it is saying it will not prejudge who was behind the attack. (The government) has no willingness whatsoever to protect the safety and property of the people," Jang added.
The PPP leader also argued that Iranian state media has already acknowledged the attack.
"It's like the attacker is making a confession, and the person who got hit is denying it," he said.
Last week, Iran's state-run Press TV published a commentary piece implying that targeting a Korean vessel that violated maritime rules could constitute a sovereign right, though it did not provide evidence.
The Iranian government has denied any military involvement in the attack.
Announcing the results of the investigation Sunday, Korea's foreign ministry said the unidentified flying objects were captured on surveillance footage but that there were limitations in determining their exact type, origin and physical size.
Source: Korea Times News
