South Korea reports first successful oil transit through Red Sea

A South Korean-flagged tanker carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port has safely exited the Red Sea, South Korean officials said, AP reports.

The passage marks the country’s first such shipment since it began seeking alternative energy routes, while Iran is largely blocking the Strait of Hormuz.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on April 17 described the passage as a “valuable accomplishment” during the government’s efforts to overcome challenges posed by the war.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries did not immediately say how many tankers would attempt to use the Red Sea route or when the vessel that passed would arrive in South Korea.

Officials say 26 of South Korea’s vessels remain stranded in the strait.