South Korea Sends Destroyer to "Hormuz" after Iran Seized Its Tanker

Today, the Ministry of Defense, South Korea, announced that a destroyer with anti-piracy squad elements on board arrived in waters near the Strait of Hormuz.

Seoul said it: "It immediately dispatched the Xionghai unit to waters near the Strait of Hormuz shortly after receiving a report about Iran's seizure of our merchant ship."

A statement by the Ministry of Defense indicated that the destroyer "Is about to carry out a mission to ensure the safety of the Korean citizens detained on board the oil tanker in Iran."

The ministry said that the Xionghai unit, consisting of 300 personnel, has been in the region since late last year and will not engage in an offensive operation, according to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, quoting an unnamed military official.

"The issue should be resolved through diplomacy. The unit focuses on the safety of our citizens who use the waterway after the detention incident," the ministry added.

On Monday, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards announced the detention of the South Korean oil tanker, "Hankook Chimie," noting that it was carrying 7,200 tons of "Petroleum chemicals."

South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman Choi Yong Sam said that "A delegation will be sent to Iran as soon as possible to try to solve the issue through bilateral negotiations."

The detained crew members are of South Korean, Indonesian, Vietnamese and Burmese nationalities, according to Sepah News website of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

Sam said that Vice Foreign Minister Choi Yong Kun will proceed with a previously planned three-day trip to Tehran early next week.