Pirates seize South Korean trawler off Somalia

SEOUL (Reuters) – A group of armed assailants seized a
South Korean trawler fishing off Somalia and is holding its
crew of 25 captive, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said in a
statement on Wednesday.

The crew of the 361-tonne fishing vessel named 628
Dongwon-ho includes eight South Koreans, nine Indonesians, five
Vietnamese and three Chinese, it said.

The South Korean fishing vessel was seized by eight armed
assailants in two speedboats on Tuesday, the ministry said.

Other South Korean ships also fishing in the area signaled
for help. Dutch and U.S. naval vessels tried to intervene but
gave up their pursuit after the fishing ship entered Somali
waters, it said.

The crew was unharmed and was able to make several calls to
the office of Dongwon Fisheries Co. in Seoul after their
capture, Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon later told reporters. He
said the Dongwon-ho was docked near the northeastern port of
Obbia.

“Dongwon’s agents are there seeking to hold negotiations
with the abductors for their release,” Ban said, adding he had
been in contact with the foreign ministers of Somalia and
neighboring Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti asking for their help.

The ministry has set up a task force to help secure the
crew’s release, he said, adding that it was not clear what the
assailants were demanding.

Pirates from Somalia frequently attack ships they say have
strayed into territorial waters and hold them for ransom. East
Africa’s waters are rich in yellow fin tuna and other fish.