UPDATE 1-South Korean ship in Strait of Hormuz hit by unidentified object on May 4, ministry says

​The stern of ‌a bulk ​carrier operated by South Korean shipper HMM, was struck by an unidentified object on May ‌4 while stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, the foreign ministry said on Sunday following an on-site inspectionof the vessel on Friday. A week ‌ago, Seoul reported a blast and fire aboard the ‌same vessel--the HMM Namu--in the strait, while anchored near the United Arab Emirates. No one was harmed in the incident.

U.S. President Donald Trump said at ⁠the time ​the incident was ⁠caused by an Iranian attack. Seoul was investigating the incident, and the vessel ⁠was towed to a port in Dubai after the blaze on Monday.

It ​was not certain what the object was, the ministry ⁠said, and authorities said debris would be collected at the site for analysis. Trump urged ⁠South ​Korea to join a currently suspended U.S.-led effort dubbed "Project Freedom," to secure shipping through the strait following the incident.

Iran's embassy ⁠in South Korea denied responsibility for the attack. It did not immediately ⁠respond to ⁠a request for comment on the object outside of normal business hours. An HMM spokesperson declined to comment ‌on ‌the ministry's statement.

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