Explosion and Fire Reported on South Korean Vessel in Strait of Hormuz

U.S. President Donald Trump to state that Iran had fired shots at the South Korean-operated vessel and some other targets. The incident unfolded in the engine room, where 24 crew members, including six Korean nationals, were on board.

No casualties or injuries were reported, and the fire was later extinguished. Trump, speaking to ABC, said the South Korean ship was riding by itself and wasn't being escorted at the time.

U.S. Launched an operation seeking to open the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, with Trump urging South Korea to join the effort. The vessel, operated by South Korean shipper HMM, saw the blaze break out after an explosion, according to an HMM spokesperson who noted that the cause was not clear at the moment.

South Korea's foreign ministry confirmed the event, stating that authorities are investigating the cause.

South Korea convened discussions following the fire on the Korean vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. The South Korean government was checking intelligence that the vessel HMM Namu might have been attacked, as reported by Yonhap News citing government officials. Seoul has said 26 South Korean-flagged vessels were stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.

A handful of commercial vessels were reported to have been hit, and a UAE oil port was ablaze after an Iranian strike. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to choke maritime flows. In response to these ongoing issues, Pakistan has opened six overland transit routes to move shipments into Iran.

The six overland transit routes aim to clear more than 3,000 containers stranded at Karachi and Port Qasim. A statutory regulatory order was issued last month by Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce, activating a 2008 bilateral road transport agreement with Iran. The 2008 bilateral road transport agreement allows third-country cargo to transit through Pakistani ports and overland corridors into Iran.

The designated corridors link Pakistan's major ports to the Iranian border crossings at Gabd and Taftan through Balochistan. The Gwadar-Gabd corridor spans 89 kilometres. One corridor is a coastal route from Karachi/Port Qasim through Lyari, Ormara and Pasni to the Gabd-Rimdan crossing, utilizing the N10 National Highway along the Balochistan coast and taking approximately 16 to 18 hours for commercial cargo.

Another is the Karachi/Port Qasim to Taftan border crossing, approximately 900 kilometers long, traversing Balochistan via routes like Karachi-Khuzdar-Dalbandin-Taftan. The Gwadar to Taftan route via Turbat, Panjgur and Quetta covers over 1,000 km, passing through central Balochistan before heading north to the border.

Route 5 connects Gwadar to Taftan via Liari, Khuzdar, Quetta/Lakpass, Dalbandin, and Nokundi, while Route 6 connects Karachi/Port Qasim to Gabd via Gwadar.

These land routes provide a strategic alternative to maritime paths amid the strait disruptions. The Gwadar-Gabd corridor cuts travel time to the border to just 2-3 hours compared to 16-18 hours from Karachi, serving as the shortest and most efficient option. Pakistan’s move activates longstanding agreements to facilitate trade with Iran, including third-country cargo transit.