South Korean Navy Takes Back Ship Hijacked by Somali Pirates

The South Korean Navy led a rescue mission Friday for sailors being held captive aboard their ship which Somali pirates hijacked last Saturday. A spokesman for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said 21 sailors were rescued, 5 pirates were captured and 8 pirates were killed in the operation led by the destroyer Choi Young. The United States military assisted in the mission.

The captain of the vessel suffered a gunshot wound to the stomach. The wound is not considered life threatening. Three of the rescuers suffered minor injuries.

The Norwegian-owned Samho Jewelry was hijacked January 15 in the Indian Ocean about 350 nautical miles southeast of the port of Muscat, Oman. The vessel was en route to Sri Lanka.

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