Somali pirates holding DPRK ship
According to the Korea Times:
Radio Free Asia (RFA) of the United States reported Friday that a North Korean ship has been detained for the 10th consecutive month by Somali pirates.
“The Chilsanbong Cheonnyeonho of the North was hijacked near Somali waters on March 31 last year and has since been detained,” the Washington-based shortwave radio reported, quoting a report on ships taken by pirates in 2010 published by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB). “Nine sailors suffered wounds from armed pirates, while resisting their attack.”
Another North Korean freighter, Limho, was hijacked on its voyage through the Bay of Aden on Feb. 3 last year and was released after four months of negotiations, according to the report.
A total of nine North Korean merchant ships were captured or attacked by pirates since 2006 _ one each in 2006 and 2008, five in 2008 and two in 2010.
During the same period, as many as 12 South Korean ships suffered similar fates _ four in 2006, three in 2008, one in 2009 and four in 2010.
“Close international cooperation is urgently needed to cope with growing damage from pirates,” said RFA. “However, North Korea, which joined the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1986, has failed to pay annual fees of 30,000 euros since 2009, saying, ‘It is hard to actively work due to a change of diplomats at the embassy.’”
Links to previous Somali pirate stories here.
Read the full story here:
‘N. Korean ship detained for 10 months by Somali pirates’
Korea Times
1/28/2011
