S. Korea calls for more global efforts to counter Somali pirates

By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, June 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's vice foreign minister called Tuesday for
the international community to step up efforts to combat pirates in Somali
waters.
"The international community should maintain momentum in joint efforts for a
fundamental solution to the piracy issue," Shin Kak-soo said in his opening
speech at a two-day forum on the matter.
The Seoul High-Level Meeting on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia drew more than 80
experts and representatives, mostly director-general-level officials, from over
30 countries and some 10 international agencies.
It is co-hosted by South Korea, Japan and the International Maritime Organization.
Shin pointed out the seriousness of the situation off the coast of Somalia,
saying there were more than 110 attacks by pirates last year alone.
South Korea has deployed a naval unit off the coast of Somalia, mainly for
operations in the Gulf of Aden to assist the U.S.-led anti-piracy campaign there.
The 300-member Cheonghae unit, named after an ancient Korean naval base, has a
4,500-ton destroyer and an anti-submarine helicopter.
lcd@yna.co.kr
(END)