I am an editorial writer at The Korea Times, focusing on foreign policy, North Korea and domestic politics. My key areas of interest include North Korea, foreign interference in elections, election integrity, cyberattacks and human rights. Prior to joining the Editorial Board, I served as both Politics Desk editor and Culture Desk editor. During my career, I have reported on the Presidential Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly.
Korean ship hijacked by Somali pirates
By Kang Hyun-kyung
A South Korean fishing boat was hijacked by Somali pirates Oct. 9 in waters off Lamu, Kenya, which was considered a relatively safe maritime area, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Sunday.
Two South Koreans identified only by their surname Kim — one, the 54-year-old owner of the ship and the other, the 67-year-old captain — were on board the 241-ton trawler “Keummi 305.”
Also on board were two Chinese and 39 Kenyans.
A South Korean citizen living in the Kenyan port city of Mombasa said that the boat was moving in waters about 180 kilometers off Haradhere as of Sunday at noon (Kenya time), adding that he did not know where it was heading, Yonhap News Agency reported.
The boat had been in the area for about a month and was taken to Harardhere, the base for pirates north of Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, he said.
"Given past instances, it would put the hostages in even more danger if the government tried to negotiate directly with the pirates," a ministry official said. "We're trying to find out more about the incident using all possible channels."
Officials at the boat dealership for Keummi said the fisheries company shut down its Busan office in 2007 due to financial problems, and Kim has been steering the ship himself for two years to save costs.
They were fishing in waters located approximately 400 kilometers from the haven of Somali pirates when they were seized.
The area was considered relatively safe because it was far from where the pirates are based and the Kenyan coastguard patrol on a regular basis.
The seizure of the fishing boat comes nearly six months after the Korean supertanker “Samho Dream” was taken over by pirates in the Indian Ocean in early April. Five Koreans and 19 Filipinos were on board.
The supertanker still remains in captivity as, according to sources, a negotiator hired by the ship’s owner ship has failed to reach an agreement over a ransom.
A ministry official told reporters on condition of anonymity that it is the policy of the government not to negotiate with pirates for the release of the kidnapped fishermen.
Since April 2006, seven South Korean ships have been seized by Somali pirates in and around the Indian Ocean.
The foreign ministry and the Korean Embassy in Kenya have set up task forces to carefully monitor the situation.
So far, details of the pirates who seized the trawler are unknown.