Kim Geon, the opposition party's convener of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee of the People Power Party (right), and Seong Il-jong, chairman of the Defense Committee, hold a joint press conference at the National Assembly Communication Center on the 11th regarding the government's response to the Namho attack. [Yonhap News] 

On the 12th, the People Power Party launched an offensive, demanding the presidential office "stop its humiliating silence" after it stated its condemnation, a week after the Namho attack in the Strait of Hormuz, confirming it was an "external attack."

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) in English that day, spokesperson Jang Dong-hyuk criticized, "While our closest ally provided clear evidence of the perpetrator, our government denied the attack and responded with diplomatic ambiguity."

Kim Geon, a member of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee and former diplomat, pointed out issues with the government's initial response during a party meeting that day.

Rep. Kim diagnosed, "The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries initially stated 'presumed attack,' but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately changed its position to ambiguous wording, saying 'a fire occurred along with an explosion.' Ultimately, the government missed the golden time for its initial response by changing its wording."

He added, "India and Thailand immediately summoned the Iranian ambassador to protest and clearly warned of severe responses if it happened again. We also should have taken a more resolute and clear response in the early stages."

He emphasized, "The People Power Party will hold a Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee meeting tomorrow to resolve public doubts and seek solutions to the situation. Government ministries must attend and thoroughly report the full details and response process of this incident to the public."

He also urged the Democratic Party of Korea, saying, "We urge the ruling party to stop delaying with excuses and to attend the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee to show itself as a responsible ruling party before the public."

Chief Spokesperson Choi Bo-yoon also issued a statement, pointing out, "President Lee boasted in January, 'If any harm is done to a citizen of the Republic of Korea, they will be ruined, whether at home or abroad.' Despite this, the government was only preoccupied with obscuring the essence of the incident with sophistry such as 'internal accident' and 'unknown cause'."

Choi demanded, "The government must immediately respond to the urgent parliamentary inquiry, transparently report all facts to the public, and immediately release the original CCTV footage of the Namho. Those responsible for omissions in reporting, minimization or concealment of damages must be strictly disciplined, regardless of their rank."

He further emphasized, "The government must strongly protest against the forces implicated as the perpetrators of this attack in cooperation with the international community, including the United States, and must receive a clear investigation into the identity of the attackers and a promise of prevention of recurrence."

The People Power Party had also held a press conference the previous day requesting the government and the ruling party to attend the Defense Committee, but after it ultimately failed, they held a meeting unilaterally in the afternoon to press for a thorough investigation into the Namho attack.