Rival parties spar over gov't response to attack on Korean vessel in Hormuz

“Rival parties stood at odds Monday over the government's response to a strike on a Korean-operated cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, with the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) accusing the government of downplaying what it called an Iranian attack. Tensions between the ruling and opposition parties escalated after a Korean investigation team concluded that two "unidentified airborne objects" caused an explosion and fire aboard the Panama-flagged cargo vessel HMM Namu, operated by Korean shipping firm HMM, in the conflict-hit strait last week. "Our government earlier insisted there were low chances that the vessel had come under attack," PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok said during a meeting of the party's supreme council, slamming the government for failing to identify Iran as being behind the attack. "Now that the strike has been confirmed, it is saying it will not prejudge who was behind the attack. (The government) has no willingness whatsoever to protect the safety and property of the people," Jang added. The PPP leader also argued that Iranian state media has already acknowledg

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