Freed S. Korean sailors arrive in UAE

DUBAI, Feb. 21 (Yonhap) -- Five South Koreans sailors who had been held captive
by Somali pirates for nearly three months arrived safely in the United Arab
Emirates on Saturday.

The MV Chemstar Venus, owned by a Japanese shipping company, was hijacked on Nov.
15 last year in the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden. Its 23 crew members, including
18 Filipinos, were released on Feb. 13.
The sailors appeared healthy and will receive medical check-ups at a hospital in
the port of Fujairah before departing for Seoul on Monday, according to an
official at the South Korean foreign affairs ministry.
"We stayed cool even though the pirates threatened to kill us. That helped keep
us alive, I think," said Seo Byung-soo, 58, captain of the boat. "I'm sorry for
causing the Korean people concern."
brk@yna.co.kr
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