An unauthorized boarding incident has occurred on an oil tanker sailing in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Yemen, and it is reported that a vessel presumed to be a South Korean warship is heading toward the scene.

According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) on the 17th (local time), a report was received around 11:00 a.m. that unauthorized individuals had boarded the chemical tanker "Asana" while it was sailing approximately 120 km away from the Yemeni port city of Al Mukalla.

The British maritime security firm Ambrey identified the boarding party as suspected Somali pirates and stated that the tanker did not appear to have a private armed security team on board.

Ambrey also reported that a South Korean warship is heading to the area in response to the distress signal sent by the vessel.

As the South Korean naval unit currently conducting missions in the Gulf of Aden is the ROKS Wang Geon of the 48th Cheonghae Unit, observers suggest it is highly likely that this is the ship involved.

However, it has not yet been officially confirmed whether the South Korean warship has reached the scene, nor have the exact identities of the boarding party or whether any hostages have been taken.

This incident comes as security concerns surrounding key maritime trade routes in the Middle East are escalating in the wake of recent military clashes between the United States and Iran.

Military confrontations between the U.S. and Iran continue in the Strait of Hormuz, while threats to vessels from the pro-Iranian Houthi rebels in Yemen persist in the Red Sea.

With the resurgence of Somali pirate activity in the Gulf of Aden, the entire Middle Eastern maritime transport network is now facing new sources of instability.

Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Lee Jung-ju | Produced by SBS Digital News