S.Korean, Myanmar sailors freed by Somali pirates
SEOUL, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Sailors from South Korea and Myanmar who had been kidnapped by Somali pirates have been set free after more than a month in captivity, South Korea's foreign ministry said on Friday.
Their cargo vessel was headed for a U.S. Navy ship standing by, where food and supplies were waiting for the crew, the ministry said in a statement.
The eight South Koreans and 14 sailors from Myanmar were believed to be safe, the ministry added.
South Korean media reports said the vessel was scheduled to sail to its original destination of Sri Lanka to unload its cargo before the sailors were flown home.
A Foreign Ministry official at the Consular Protection Division, which is responsible for the matter, refused to comment on the reports.
There was no mention in the news release of whether a ransom was paid for the release of the sailors and their vessel.
Heavily armed Somali gunmen have seized more than 30 vessels so far this year, making the busy shipping lanes through the Gulf of Aden the most dangerous in the world.
"South Korea is considering dispatching a naval ship to the area to protect its vessels and sailors," the ministry said.
Before the South Korean vessel's release, the gunmen were holding 10 ships and about 130 crew for ransom.
South Korean fishing and cargo vessels had been previously captured off the Somali coast, and in one instance sailors were held for more than 100 days before being released. (Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Jon Herskovitz and Alex Richardson)
