Somali pirates seize S Korean fishing boat

Oct 17, 2010 |

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Seoul: A South Korean fishing boat has been seized by Somali pirates off the coast of Kenya and is being held in Somalia, a report said today.

The 241-ton vessel, which was carrying two South Koreans, two Chinese and 39 Kenyans, was hijacked on October 9 near the Kenyan island of Lamu in the Indian Ocean, YTN news channel reported, citing foreign ministry officials in Seoul.

The fishing boat and crew have been taken to a pirate stronghold in northern Somalia, the report said, citing South Korean sources in Kenya.

The foreign ministry was not immediately available for comment.

The latest hijacking came as South Korea increases efforts to counter piracy in international waters.

South Korea has an anti-piracy warship patrolling Somali waters because of a rise in hijackings near the Horn of Africa, a key route leading to the Suez Canal.

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