S. Korean destroyer arrives Hormuz Strait after oil tanker seizure

The official South Korean Yonhap Agency quoted a government official as saying that the destroyer Choi Yong of the Chung Hee Military Unit concerned with fighting maritime piracy arrived in the area, Tuesday dawn, to deal with the detention of the tanker "Hankook Kimi", confirming that the unit began to perform its mission.

The agency stated that the destroyer was located the previous day south of the port of Muscat, and it was sent to the vicinity of Hormuz, after being informed of the situation regarding the detention of the tanker.

The agency said that the destroyer is planning to deal with the situation in close cooperation with the Combined Maritime Forces in Bahrain, the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.

While South Korea's Foreign Ministry spokesman Choi Yong- Sam said that it will send a delegation to Iran "as soon as possible" to try to negotiate the release of the oil tanker seized by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards on Monday, January 4.

He added that the pre-arranged visit to Iran by Deputy Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun early next week is still ongoing.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards detained the oil tanker "Hancock Kimi" near the strategic Strait of Hormuz and arrested its 20 crew members.

Iran says the tanker violated applicable environmental laws, which the tanker operators deny.

This incident comes in light of tensions between the two countries over the South Korean authorities freezing Iranian funds in their banks due to US sanctions.

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha declined to speculate on reports that Iran had seized the tanker in an attempt to put pressure on Seoul to release Iranian funds held in South Korean banks.

The South Korean Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that a warship carrying an anti-piracy unit was in the waters near the Strait of Hormuz near where the tanker was being held - to "ensure the safety" of the crew.

The incident marks the first detention by the Iranian authorities of a major tanker in more than a year.

T/S

ANHA