Timing of Passage "Still Uncertain"... Government "Considering Role in Reconstruction"

[Anchor]
Next, we move to the following news. Although the United States and Iran have reached an agreement to end the war, it remains uncertain when our ships trapped in the strait will be able to leave. This is because there are no set plans regarding how to remove potential mines or the criteria for ships from various countries to exit the strait. Shipping companies are concerned about a prolonged wait.

Reporter Kim Hye-young has the story.

[Reporter]

Once the United States and Iran officially sign a memorandum of understanding to end the war on June 19, it is reported that the Strait of Hormuz will be "freely reopened" for 60 days. However, it is still unclear when passage will actually be possible.

It remains unknown whether the existing route through the center of the strait, used before the war, will be reused, or if the northern route created by the Iranian side will be utilized.

If Iran has laid mines in the strait, it is not yet determined who will remove them or how, and more importantly, there are no established criteria or order for the approximately 1,000 ships from various countries, as estimated by the government, to exit the strait.

[Park Il / Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: We need to comprehensively consider various factors, including the overall safety of the strait such as the presence of mines, the speed of the strait's opening, and available routes.]

Reuters reported that it could take another 40 to 50 days to return to normal passage due to mine clearance and safety route verification work.

Among shipping companies, there is concern that if this hard-won opportunity for passage is missed, the waiting situation could become even more prolonged.

[Shipping Company Official (Voice altered): I heard that they (shipping companies) expressed concerns to the government about what would happen if they missed the timing and the situation became more protracted.]

A South Korean government official stated, "As the window of opportunity has now opened, we are making efforts to ensure our ships can exit safely within the 60-day period."

Regarding foreign media reports that the U.S. is considering the creation of an Iran reconstruction fund, the official said that while there have been no specific requests yet, the government will consider playing a constructive and active role in future reconstruction projects.

(Video reporting: Jo Chun-dong | Video editing: Jung Sung-hoon | Design: Han Heung-soo, Kang Yoon-jung)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.