ID :
55845
Thu, 04/16/2009 - 19:25
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/55845
The shortlink copeid
S. Korean warship comes close to combat in Somali waters: official
(ATTN: RECASTS lead; ADDS details, background throughout)
By Sam Kim
SEOUL, April 16 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean warship deployed to Somali waters
nearly engaged in combat earlier this week when it set out to help a foreign
vessel that had reported suspected pirates, an official said Thursday.
The destroyer named Munmu the Great was notified Wednesday morning by a Marshall
Islands-registered ship that "a few boats suspected of carrying pirates were
approaching," said Army Col. Lee Hyoung-kook at the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)
in Seoul.
Lee, who oversees the 300-strong South Korean naval deployment Cheonghae, said
the destroyer immediately set sail to stave off the threat, but the suspicious
boats turned away after coming as close as 3 kilometers to the commercial vessel.
"If pirates mount attacks in such situations, it is humanly reasonable for us to
provide support" regardless of their nationalities, Lee told reporters.
The destroyer began escorting South Korea's commercial vessels plying the Gulf of
Aden on Thursday morning, convoying a 12,000-ton chemical transporter, the Pine
Galaxy, off the coast of Oman, Lee said.
It was expected to take approximately 13 hours for the warship to complete its
first mission along the 790-kilometer-long Internationally Recommended Transit
Corridor, Lee said.
About 500 South Korean ships ply the route each year, according to the JCS.
Pirates there have recently vowed to step up their attacks after U.S. naval
forces thwarted a hijacking of an American vessel.
Somalia has not had a functional government since its dictator was dethroned by
warlords in 1991. Poverty has driven a large number of locals to piracy, while
black market sales of weapons run rampant.
Lee said pirates are believed to operate equipment that can eavesdrop on military
communications.
According to the U.S. Navy, about two dozen hijackings have occurred this year,
well ahead of the pace in 2008.
Lee said the recent surge in pirate attacks poses a threat, but voiced confidence
the South Korean unit is ready to deal with any contingency.
"We have trained with various situations in mind. We're optimally ready," he
said, adding about 150 of South Korean vessels using the route are vulnerable to
attacks because of their low speed.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
By Sam Kim
SEOUL, April 16 (Yonhap) -- A South Korean warship deployed to Somali waters
nearly engaged in combat earlier this week when it set out to help a foreign
vessel that had reported suspected pirates, an official said Thursday.
The destroyer named Munmu the Great was notified Wednesday morning by a Marshall
Islands-registered ship that "a few boats suspected of carrying pirates were
approaching," said Army Col. Lee Hyoung-kook at the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)
in Seoul.
Lee, who oversees the 300-strong South Korean naval deployment Cheonghae, said
the destroyer immediately set sail to stave off the threat, but the suspicious
boats turned away after coming as close as 3 kilometers to the commercial vessel.
"If pirates mount attacks in such situations, it is humanly reasonable for us to
provide support" regardless of their nationalities, Lee told reporters.
The destroyer began escorting South Korea's commercial vessels plying the Gulf of
Aden on Thursday morning, convoying a 12,000-ton chemical transporter, the Pine
Galaxy, off the coast of Oman, Lee said.
It was expected to take approximately 13 hours for the warship to complete its
first mission along the 790-kilometer-long Internationally Recommended Transit
Corridor, Lee said.
About 500 South Korean ships ply the route each year, according to the JCS.
Pirates there have recently vowed to step up their attacks after U.S. naval
forces thwarted a hijacking of an American vessel.
Somalia has not had a functional government since its dictator was dethroned by
warlords in 1991. Poverty has driven a large number of locals to piracy, while
black market sales of weapons run rampant.
Lee said pirates are believed to operate equipment that can eavesdrop on military
communications.
According to the U.S. Navy, about two dozen hijackings have occurred this year,
well ahead of the pace in 2008.
Lee said the recent surge in pirate attacks poses a threat, but voiced confidence
the South Korean unit is ready to deal with any contingency.
"We have trained with various situations in mind. We're optimally ready," he
said, adding about 150 of South Korean vessels using the route are vulnerable to
attacks because of their low speed.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
