S. Korean Navy frees hijacked cargo ship, kills Somali pirates

Yonhap ^ | 1/21/11

[GQuagmire]

SEOUL, Jan. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korean naval special forces successfully rescued 21 seamen and their South Korean-operated cargo ship that was hijacked last week by Somali pirates in an operation that left eight Somali pirates dead, Seoul's military officials said Friday.

"Our special forces stormed the hijacked Samho Jewelry earlier today and freed all hostages," said Col. Lee Bung-woo, a spokesman at South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.

[MichaelP]

Col. Lee Bung-woo

Gotta love the name...

[Cronos]

Have we outsourced the navy to the Koreans?

[Conservative Vermont Vet]

I can tell you, after being stationed in Japan (1963-65 USAF) and flying all over the Far East-SE Asia as a Crew Chief (with the exception of So. Korea) and when finally seeing my 1st ROK troop when in Vietnam (1966) I was shocked at their size and later (as I worked in Intel) from reports, at their ferocity and fighting capabilities.

I'm 6'1" (and at the time weighed about 180) and some of them guys were bigger than me.

They even looked "bad" and I wouldn't even wanted one of them to get PO'd at me.

Too bad most the (apparently) rest of the "wussified" World will not take notice and start kicking ass of the pirates (and forget about taking names) as that situation could be curtailed in a matter of months.

[olezip]

South Korean naval special forces successfully rescued 21 seamen and their South Korean-operated cargo ship that was hijacked last week by Somali pirates in an operation that left eight Somali pirates dead, Seoul's military officials said Friday.

Congratulations to the South Korean naval special forces! Are we still applying the "catch and release" policy? Or are we turning over the captured pirates to the World Court as criminals? Or are we keeping them in jail until things "cool off" and we can quietly release them after somebody gets paid something? What is Hillary's position on this?

[Talf]

well done

[Melchior]

In South Viet Nam’s II Corps the VC would fire on Korean units from peaceful villages and then watch with satisfaction as the White Horse (the Division most responsible, as I recall) leveled the place.

[csvset]

"Our Lynx helicopter immediately returned fire and several pirates fell into the waters. We believe they are dead."

Chum !

[csvset]

The BBC has some pictures at this link.

In pictures: South Korea navy rescues pirated ship

Way to go South Korea !

[avid]

The ship is riddled with large caliber bullet holes. Did the Koreans shot at it or the pirates?