South Korea Hosts International Piracy Meeting

(Photo: European Press Association)

A large gathering of security experts, thought to number around 100 and representing 34 countries attended the 'high level' piracy meeting held over the 9th and 10th June in Seoul, South Korea.

Topics discussed included solutions to the piracy problem as well as the broader issues of the situation in Somalia which is the cause of so many of these maritime issues.

South Korea is committed to this issue having seen a number of it's vessels attacked over the past year and the bulk carrier 'Bright Ruby' hijacked in September 2008.

South Korean Intervention - Update

(Photo: U.S. Navy/Eric L. Beauregard Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class)

The US naval cruiser 'USS Gettysburg' working with the South Korean destroyer as part of Combined Task Force 151 also intervened and captured all 17 suspected pirates.

A cache of arms were found aboard their vessel and the suspects are now aboard the cruiser for interrogation.

South Korean Intervention

On Wednesday a South Korean destroyer intervened in a suspected pirates approach to an Egyptian vessel.

The deployment of snipers aboard a military helicopter was enough to stop the attempted hijacking.

The military team were sent from the destroyer 'Munmu the Great" which was operating under the joint task force nearby.

(Reuters)