S. Korean captives of Somali pirates to return home on 23rd: Seoul officials

SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Yonhap) -- Five South Koreans released this week by Somali
pirates off the coast of Kenya will return home in about a week, Seoul's foreign
ministry said Saturday.
All 23 crew members of a Japanese-owned cargo ship -- including 18 Filipinos --
were released unharmed Friday after being held hostage for nearly three months in
the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden.
"All are healthy. They will return home via air around the 23rd after going
through a health examination in Dubai," an official at the foreign ministry said,
requesting anonymity because he was not authorized to comment on the issue.
The Japanese-flagged MV Chemstar Venus, which was hijacked on Nov. 15, is to
arrive at a harbor in the United Arab Emirates soon under the protection of U.S.
warship, he added.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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