The Korea Herald

Cheonghae Unit’s previous anti-piracy successes

Jan 21, 2011

The Cheonghae Unit, which was deployed in March 2009 to join an international anti-piracy campaign in the Gulf of Aden off the Somali coast, has thus far subdued pirate ships on 15 occasions.The unit, consisting of a 4,500-ton destroyer, a helicopter and three high-speed boats, has also escorted hundreds of vessels passing through the waters off Somalia and assisted in their safe navigation. The f
Rescue sends tough message to pirates

Jan 21, 2011

First storm of hijacked ship shows shift to hardline responseThe government in Seoul has taken military action against the Somali pirates, which have targeted an increasing number of South Korean ships for ransom.Not only South Korean vessels are seized by pirates in the Arabian Sea. Many foreign freighter ships have been captured there for ransom.Somali pirates seized a Korean-flagged freighter a
All 21 crewmembers of Samho Jewelry rescued

Jan 21, 2011

The Underwater Demolitaion Team prepares to enter the steering room of the Samho Jewelry on Friday. (ROK Navy) South Korea's defense minister official briefs on the raid of the Korean ship hijacked by Somali pirates on Friday. (Yonhap News)　All of the 21 crewmembers of a South Korean freighter seized by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean last Saturday were safely rescued by South Korean anti-pira
Timeline of Samho Jewelry hijacking, rescue

Jan 21, 2011

Jan. 15: Chemical freighter Samho Jewelry carrying 21 crewmembers including eight Koreans was captured by Somali pirates in the Arabian Sea between Oman and India. Jan. 16: South Korea's Cheonghae Unit dispatched 4,500-ton destroyer Choi Young to the scene. Jan. 18: South Korean troops fire at the Somali pirates as they attempt to hijack a Mongolian vessel. The shootout left three South Korean sol
Somali parliament blocks piracy bill

Jan 21, 2011

Portuguese soldiers arrest Somali pirates in 2009. (Yonhap News) MOGADISHU (AFP) - Somali lawmakers on Tuesday blocked a bill criminalising piracy which was proposed by the justice minister to pave the way for a local tribunal. The bill finalised last week by the government is meant to beef up Somalia's legal arsenal in prosecuting and detaining pirates, who have so far been mainly tried abroa
Lee praises Korean troops for 'perfect' raid on Somali pirates

Jan 21, 2011

President Lee Myung-bak expressed appreciation for the successful rescue operation by the country's navy for a South Korean chemical freighter and its 21 sailors seized by Somali pirates and reaffirmed Seoul's resolve not to tolerate any future attacks on South Korean people."Our military carried out the operation perfectly under difficult circumstances," Lee said in a brief statement broadcast li
U.S. welcomes Koreas' agreement to resume talks

Jan 21, 2011

WASHINGTON (Yonhap) -- The United States Thursday welcomed North Korea's proposal for high-level inter-Korean military dialogue to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula after the North's shelling of a front-line island and torpedoing of a South Korean warship last year. "I think following that, the Republic of Korea agreeing to enter talks with the North Koreans -- clearly, conditions were cr
Seoul to up pressure on N.K. nuke program

Jan 20, 2011

Evaluating the outcome of the U.S.-China summit as positive, South Korea repeated on Thursday that the resumption of any kind of dialogue with North Korea “depended fully” upon the nuclear-armed state’s earnest intent to halt provocations and disarm. Overcoming their once-divided view on how to deal with Pyongyang’s growing belligerence, U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao
Seoul fraught by Somali pirates’ ship hijackings

Jan 20, 2011

The Seoul government appears to be agonizing over how to deal with Somali pirates, after a South Korean cargo vessel carrying 21 crewmembers was seized last Saturday.The 11,500-ton Samho Jewelry freighter, carrying eight South Koreans, was captured in the Arabian Sea between Oman and India en route to Sri Lanka from the United Arab Emirates.The government has reiterated its vow not to negotiate wi
Ex-lecturer aims to lead change in civil service

Jan 20, 2011

Being the first in something always draws attention. Such was the case for Yoon Eun-key, who became the first non-bureaucrat to take the helm of the Central Officials Training Institute eight months ago.The former corporate consultant, lecturer, radio host and university president has held a dozen job titles, but had never served in the public sector before.“With my experience in corporate educati
S. Korea positive on outcome of U.S.-China summit

Jan 20, 2011

South Korea appreciates the outcome of the U.S.-China summit, an official said Thursday, after the high-stakes meeting called for inter-Korean dialogue as an "essential step" in reducing tensions and expressed "concern" about North Korea's uranium enrichment program.U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao held a summit in Washington on Wednesday (U.S. time) that touched on a wi
Obama, Hu call on N. K. to stop provocations

Jan 20, 2011

WASHINGTON -- The United States and China Wednesday called on North Korea to stop provocations and abide by its denuclearization pledge.U.S. President Obama (right) and Chinese President Hu Jintao attend a joint news conference at the White House after summit talks on Wednesday. (AP-Yonhap) Speaking at a joint press conference at the White House withChinese President Hu Jintao, U.S. Presiden
Seoul in talks with U.S. on longer missile range

Jan 19, 2011

South Korea has recently begun consultations with the U.S. over whether to revise their long-standing missile agreement and allow Seoul to develop longer-range ballistic missiles in order to better safeguard itself, according to a government source.The move comes as North Korea continues to develop nuclear programs and long-range missiles that pose a threat not only to its southern neighbor, but a
GNP lawmakers seek to restrict speaker’s role

Jan 19, 2011

A group of reformist lawmakers in the ruling Grand National Party on Wednesday submitted a revision bill to curb the National Assembly speaker’s authority in calling for a vote on bills at his own discretion. The bill aiming to prevent the dominant party’s unilateral propulsion of parliamentary proceedings is expected to face opposition from the ruling camp, which has been criticized for passing several controversial bills by taking advantage of the system.Rep. Jungwook Hong submitted the bill o
Obama, Hu summit draws attention in Seoul

Jan 19, 2011

With the U.S. and China expected to try resolving their once complicated relations by emphasizing common goals at their summit this week, South Korea is preparing for any changes which may occur in the regional powers’ attitude toward North Korea. U.S. President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao are expected to discuss a wide range of economic and diplomatic issues Thursday, inclu