S. Korea likely to send warship to Somalia

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Oct. 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is expected to dispatch a fleet of Navy
ships to waters off Somalia in a bid to protect its fishing and cargo ships from
piracy, an informed source said Wednesday.
"There is consensus that we send warships there, although a final decision has
yet to be made through consultations among related ministries," the source said.
An inter-governmental team is visiting Somalia to assess the situation there.
The move comes as eight South Koreans were abducted after their freighter was
seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia last month. The sailors were released
unharmed later.
The U.N. Security Council approved a new resolution early this month designed to
step up the fight against piracy off Somalia.
It calls for all states to actively contribute to anti-piracy efforts off the
coast of Somalia, including the dispatch of warship and warplanes in order stop
pirates.
Ships operating in Somali waters often fall prey to pirates. More than 25 cases
of ship kidnappings were reported there last year alone.
A South Korean tuna ship with 25 crew members was hijacked by Somali pirates in
April 2006. The vessel and its crew were released for a ransom after four months.
In 2007, two South Korean fishing vessels were seized by Somali pirates. The crew
was released after six months in captivity.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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