Trump pressures Seoul after Korean ship incident

May 06, 2026, 08:46 am

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Donald Trump gestures as if dancing with student athletes on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 5. He signed a proclamation reinstating the competitive, school-based Presidential Fitness Test Award. /AFP-Yonhap

US President Donald Trump claimed that a South Korean cargo ship was struck while sailing alone outside a protected convoy, renewing pressure on Seoul to join a U.S.-led maritime security mission dubbed “Project Freedom” in the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking at a White House event on May 5, Trump said, “The Korean ship was not in the convoy and chose to operate alone,” adding that “their ship was hit, but vessels under U.S. protection were not attacked.”

The remarks came just days after Washington announced a reduction of about 5,000 U.S. troops stationed in Germany, signaling continued pressure on allies over burden-sharing.

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Ships sail through the Strait of Hormuz near Bandar Abbas, Iran, on May 4. /Reuters-Yonhap

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the call, urging South Korea, Japan, Australia and European nations to take a more active role in securing the strategic waterway. He described Project Freedom as a temporary and defensive operation, with plans to eventually transfer responsibility to participating allies.

Trump had earlier written on social media that Iran fired multiple shots toward vessels, including a Korean cargo ship, and suggested that “it is time for South Korea to join this mission.”

In an interview with ABC, he reiterated that multiple shots had been fired at Korean ships and emphasized the need for Seoul to respond.

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An Iranian walks along a street featuring an anti-U.S. mural in Tehran on May 4. /EPA-Yonhap

Hegseth, speaking at a Pentagon briefing, described the attacks as reflecting Iran’s “indiscriminate behavior” and said U.S. Central Command was in communication with the affected Korean vessel.

The ship, identified as the HMM Namu, carried 24 crew members, including six South Koreans. It is currently being towed to Dubai without reported casualties. Seoul has maintained that the cause of the explosion and fire remains under investigation.

Hegseth emphasized that the operation is not intended to be permanent. “The world needs this waterway far more than we do,” he said, adding that responsibility would be handed over to allies “at the appropriate time.”

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Pete Hegseth (left) and Dan Caine speak at a press briefing at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, near Washington, D.C., on May 5. /AP-Yonhap

He also described the mission as separate from broader U.S. military operations against Iran, stressing its defensive nature and the goal of ensuring free navigation.

At the same briefing, Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine said more than 1,550 commercial vessels and 22,500 sailors are effectively stranded due to ongoing threats in the region.

He noted that Iran has repeatedly targeted commercial shipping over the past seven weeks, including firing on vessels even after a ceasefire, and launching attacks against U.S. forces.

Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz, making the situation a major concern for global energy markets and trade stability.

Trump characterized the conflict as a “little skirmish” and claimed Iran’s military capabilities had been largely neutralized. He also highlighted U.S. defensive strength, saying that 111 missiles fired at a U.S. aircraft carrier were all intercepted.

He added that Iran’s economy is in severe distress, citing inflation of up to 150% and difficulties in paying its military personnel.

Some critics, including The New York Times, argued that the maritime crisis partly stems from earlier U.S. actions, suggesting that Project Freedom represents an effort to manage challenges created by the administration itself.

Despite such criticism, the Trump administration maintains that securing the Strait of Hormuz is essential and that allied participation will be key to sustaining long-term stability in the region.

#Donald Trump #Project Freedom #Strait of Hormuz #HMM vessel #Iran conflict