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South Korea considering dispatching navy ship to waters off Somalia
Wed. October 08, 2008 04:45 am.- By Bonny Apunyu. -
(SomaliNet) South Korea’s top diplomat said Tuesday that South Korea is considering dispatching a navy ship to waters off Somalia in a bid to protect its fishing and cargo ships from piracy.
"Consultations (among related ministries) are under way on the issue of dispatching a navy ship," Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan [Yu Myo'ng-hwan] told lawmakers during an inspection of his ministry. He did not provide further details.
The move comes as eight South Koreans remain in captivity after their freighter was seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia last month. Thirteen sailors from Myanmar aboard the ship were also abducted.
The minister, asked about efforts to rescue them, said, "Negotiations have proceeded and we expect the case to be resolved before long."
The abductions in pirate-infested Somali waters prompted the government authorities to hold an emergency meeting to discuss ways of preventing the recurrence of such an incident.
One proposed idea was to send a navy ship, possibly the Yi Sun-shin class destroyer commissioned in 2003, according to a source.
A resolution adopted by the UN Security Council in early June authorized countries to enter Somalia's territorial waters for a period of six months with advance notice and use "all necessary means" to stop piracy.
However, the Defence Ministry took a cautious stance, citing logistical problems and potential public backlash.
"Nothing has been decided on the issue of sending a navy ship to Somalia," a ministry official said, asking not to be named. "It is a matter that requires review from various aspects."
Another ministry official said, "Only basic-level consultations are under way as one of many options."
He pointed out that the dispatch of a navy ship needs approval from the National Assembly.
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 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.-Mareeg
News Category: Somalia
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