"A Turning Point for a Prolonged Middle East War"...Anxious Korean Ships Still Stranded Without a Solution

[The Financial News] The South Korean government cannot rule out the possibility that the ground war in the Middle East conflict will expand and drag on. Concerns have grown as the war, which President Donald Trump had said would last four weeks, has now entered its fifth week. With the deadline for the ultimatum announced by Trump only a few days away, the Middle East war has reached a major turning point.
On the 6th, an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea told reporters, "This week will be a major turning point in the Middle East war," and warned, "If a ground offensive begins, a prolonged war will be inevitable."
The official added, however, "There are various scenarios being discussed, including a cease-fire, end-of-war negotiations, and an escalation into a long-term conflict." The official noted, "Even if United States military forces withdraw and cease-fire or end-of-war talks move forward, mutual distrust will persist, and there are still many variables, such as passage through the Strait of Hormuz." The official also said they are closely watching Trump's remark that "the gates of hell" would open at 9 a.m. this Wednesday.
Fears that the Middle East war could be prolonged have also raised alarms over the safety of 26 South Korean vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. As Japanese and French ships have recently managed to pass through the strait one after another, the South Korean government is trying to understand the circumstances behind their escape.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, the Japanese ship that successfully escaped is registered in Panama, while the French vessel sails under the flag of Malta. For deep-sea vessels, it is not uncommon for the owner and the ship's flag state to be different.
In this regard, the Japanese government has stated that there was no prior coordination with Iran to ensure the ship's passage. The French vessel is also believed to have been in a similar situation.
The Japanese liquefied natural gas carrier (LNG carrier) that passed through the Strait of Hormuz on the 1st is a Panama-flagged ship jointly owned by Mitsui and Oman, and it was reportedly not carrying any cargo. The second Japanese LPG carrier that passed through the strait on the 4th is also registered in Panama and is heading for India.
There are no Japanese crew members on board; most of the crew are from India. Another container ship operated by a French shipping company that exited the Strait of Hormuz is a Malta-flagged vessel and passed through with its automatic identification system turned on.
An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea said, "The Japanese and French ships that left the Strait of Hormuz differ widely in terms of flag state, ownership, destination, and crew nationality. Simple comparisons between countries do not fully reflect the current situation."

rainman@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-soo Reporter