Five S. Koreans aboard Japanese freighter abducted in waters off Somalia

(ATTN: UPDATES details, quote)
SEOUL, Nov. 16 (Yonhap) -- A Japanese freighter, whose crewmen include five South
Koreans, was hijacked by an armed group in waters off Somalia on late Saturday
(Seoul time), South Korea's Foreign Ministry said Sunday.
The 20,000-ton cargo ship named Chemstar Venus was abducted 96 miles north of the
Gulf of Aden in Somalia at 6:10 p.m., the ministry said.
Of the ship's 23 crewmen, five were South Korean and 18 were Filippino, the
ministry said.
"It was not yet learned who the hijackers are and whether the crewmen are safe,"
a ministry official said.
Ships operating in Somali waters often fall prey to pirates. More than 25 cases
of ship kidnappings were reported there in 2007 alone.
As recently as September, eight South Koreans were abducted after their freighter
was seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The sailors were released unharmed
after more than a month of captivity.
Also in 2007, two South Korean fishing vessels were seized by Somali pirates. The
crew was released after six months in captivity. In 2006, a South Korean tuna
ship with 25 crew members was hijacked by Somali pirates. The vessel and its crew
were released for a ransom after four months.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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