EDITORIAL from The Korea Herald on Oct. 17)

Proceed with caution

A bulk carrier with 21 crew members was hijacked Wednesday in the latest attack
against ships off the coast of Somalia by armed pirates. Somali pirates have also
been holding a Ukranian ship carrying tanks and military hardware since Sept. 25.
A total of 29 ships have been hijacked this year in the area -- 11 ships and 200
crew members remain captive.
Among the 200 are 8 Korean crew members, who were taken when their 15,000-ton
freighter was seized on Sept. 10. In the same attack, 13 sailors from Myanmar
were also kidnapped.
While the government says it is negotiating and that the case would soon be
resolved, history shows it could be some time before the hostages are released.
Last year, two Korean fishing vessels were captured by Somali pirates, and the
crew was not released until six months later. In 2006, a Korean tuna ship was
hijacked in the same area. The pirates held the 25 crewmen and the ship hostage
for four months before receiving a ransom.
Piracy in the waters off the coast of Somalia is a growing problem compounded by
the fact that the African state has not been able to form an effective government
since 1991. In June 2006, the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution allowing
states to send warships into Somalia's waters to combat piracy and armed robbery
at sea. The incidents of pirate attacks dropped significantly in the second half
of that year.
However, piracy increased significantly in 2007 and the U.N. Security Council
last week unanimously adopted a resolution calling on all states to take an
active part in the fight against piracy off the coast of Somalia, "in particular
by deploying naval vessels and military aircraft."
Last Tuesday, while attending an international fleet review in Busan, President
Lee Myung-bak said that the Korean Navy should play a greater role in the global
fight against terrorism and piracy. "In compliance with the nation's enhanced
international status, the Korean Navy would further reinforce its role in
international efforts to remove common threats to the world," he said.
Earlier in the day, Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan told legislators that the
government was considering dispatching Navy ships to the waters off Somalia to
protect Korean fishing and cargo ships from piracy.
The Defense Ministry took a more cautious stance, citing logistical problems and
public sentiment. The ministry said the government must also consider whether it
will be able to prevent abductions by dispatching troops.
Dispatching troops abroad should be undertaken after much consideration and
careful planning. Given the current security situation on the Korean Peninsula --
particularly as North Korea threatens the possibility of a naval clash in the
West Sea -- the Navy is right to be hesitant about overseas deployment. Sending a
Yi Sun-shin class destroyer would also require the deployment of attendant
helicopters and anti-terrorism troops, which could all overtax the Navy's defense
capabilities. National defense requirements must not be compromised under any
circumstances.
If such a ship is indeed deployed to the area, it would be the first time a
Korean Navy ship was involved in a foreign operation to fight piracy --
potentially resulting in armed clashes. This is another reason the government
must proceed with caution.