Tokyo daily coronavirus cases hit record as state of emergency looms

Tokyo daily coronavirus cases hit record as state of emergency looms

SEOUL: Seoul is preparing to take legal action against Iran over the seizure of a South Korean oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

The South Korean-flagged vessel MT Hankuk Chemi was traveling from Saudi Arabia to the UAE when it was intercepted by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Monday and taken to the port of Bandar Abbas.

While officials in Seoul say they are seeking a diplomatic solution to the standoff, the South Korean navy's Choi Young destroyer arrived in waters near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. The Defense Ministry said the destroyer's presence is to "ensure the safety“ of Korean nationals.

"A legal action is being considered as one of the options we could take to resolve the situation,“ South Korea's Foreign Ministry said in a report submitted to the national legislature.

According to the Iranian side, the ship, which was carrying 7,200 tons of ethanol, had violated environmental protocols “” claims that the vessel's owner has denied.

The Korean ministry said it was verifying key facts regarding Iran's claims about environmental pollution, whether the vessel was sailing in international or territorial waters, and whether the seizure was carried out in line with international