Seoul considers dispatching stealth destroyer to Somali waters

SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will likely send a stealth destroyer and
Navy SEAL special forces to Somali waters to combat piracy, a source said
Wednesday.

"The Navy is considering sending KDX-II Gang Gam-chan Ham to Somali waters as its
first warship to the area," the source said, asking not to be identified.
The vessel is one of six stealth destroyers South Korea has. At least five of the
vessels will be put into a six-month rotation for the Somali mission, according
to the source.
Seoul has yet to make a final decision on the dispatch of warships to Somali
waters, where several South Korean commercial ships have fallen victim to piracy
in recent years. Five South Koreans currently remain in captivity after their
Japanese freighter was seized off the East African nation Saturday.
Won Tae-jae, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry, on Monday said the government
will submit a bill for the troop dispatch to the National Assembly before the
ongoing parliamentary session ends next month.
Equipped with two helicopters and various precision-guided missiles, KDX-II
destroyers are said to be on top of their class with anti-ship and anti-air
capabilities.
To fight off any blitz attacks by pirates, the country will also dispatch special
forces from the Navy SEAL and Underwater Demolition Team, officials have said.
The country was earlier said to be considering sending a supply vessel along with
the warship, but the officials said it will instead use supply vessels operated
by U.S. and Japanese forces in the area.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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