A bulk carrier with 21 crew members was hijacked Wednesday in the latest attack against ships off the coast of Somalia by armed pirates. Somali pirates have also been holding a Ukranian ship carrying tanks and military hardware since Sept. 25. A total of 29 ships have been hijacked this year in the area.

Last night eight Korean crew members, who were taken when their 15,000-tonne freighter was seized on Sept. 10, were freed.

While the government says it is negotiating and that the case will soon be resolved, history shows it could be some time before the hostages are released.

Last year, two Korean fishing vessels were captured by Somali pirates, and the crew was not released until six months later. In 2006, a Korean tuna ship was hijacked in the same area. The pirates held the 25 crewmen and the ship hostage for four months before receiving a ransom.

Piracy in the waters off the coast of Somalia is a growing problem compounded by the fact that the African state has not been able to form an effective government since 1991. In June 2006, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution allowing states to send warships into Somalia’s waters to combat piracy and armed robbery at sea. The incidents of pirate attacks dropped significantly in the second half of that year.

However, piracy increased significantly in 2007 and the UN Security Council last week unanimously adopted a resolution calling on all states to take an active part in the fight against piracy off the coast of Somalia, "in particular by deploying naval vessels and military aircraft."

Last Tuesday, while attending an international fleet review in Busan, President Lee Myung-bak said that the Korean Navy should play a greater role in the global fight against terrorism and piracy. "In compliance with the nation’s enhanced international status, the Korean Navy would further reinforce its role in international efforts to remove common threats to the world," he said.

Earlier in the day, Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan told legislators that the government was considering dispatching navy ships to the waters off Somalia to protect Korean fishing and cargo ships from piracy.

The defence ministry took a more cautious stance, citing logistical problems and public sentiment. The ministry said the government must also consider whether it will be able to prevent abductions by dispatching troops.

Dispatching troops abroad should be undertaken after much consideration and careful planning. Given the current security situation on the Korean peninsula - particularly as North Korea threatens the possibility of a naval clash in the West Sea - the navy is right to be hesitant about overseas deployment. Sending a Yi Sun-shin class destroyer would also require the deployment of attendant helicopters and anti-terrorism troops, which could all overtax the navy’s defence capabilities. National defence requirements must not be compromised under any circumstances.

If such a ship is indeed deployed to the area, it would be the first time a Korean Navy ship was involved in a foreign operation to fight piracy - potentially resulting in armed clashes. This is another reason the government must proceed with caution. - ANN