S-Korea Considers To Dispatch Warship To Protect Tuna Fleetff

From China View

South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan said Tuesday that his government is considering to dispatch a destroyer to waters off Somalia to fight pirates there.

At an inspection of the Foreign Ministry by lawmakers, Yu said consultations among related ministries are under way on the issue of dispatching a navy ship.

Yu’s remarks came after eight South Koreans and 13 Myanmar aboard a South Korean ship were held hostage by pirates off the coast of Somalia last month.

Yu said the negotiations for rescue of the abductees have proceeded and the South Korean government expects the case to be resolved before long.

South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency said the country may dispatch the Yi Sun-shin class destroyer to waters off Somalia.

Meanwhile, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said in South Korea’s southeastern port city of Busan, where he attended an international fleet review, that “The South Korean Navy should now play a greater role in the global fight against terrorism and piracy.”

”In compliance with the nation’s enhanced international status, the Korean Navy should further reinforce its role in international efforts to remove common threats to the world. The government will extend its full support to beefing up the power of the Korean military,” the president said after exchanging views with South Korean Navy generals and political leaders on ways to eradicate Somali pirates.

More than 25 cases of ship kidnappings were reported on waters off Somalian coast in 2007, Yonhap said.

In April 2006, 25 crew on a South Korean tuna ship were hijacked by Somali pirates and were released for a ransom after four months.

In 2007, two South Korean fishing vessels were seized by Somali pirates. The pirates released the crew after six months.

South Korean Foreign Ministry said the dispatch of a navy ship need approval from the National Assembly.