Five Nations Discuss Military Counterattack Against Somali Pirates

November 22, 2007 12:09 a.m. EST

Seoul, South Korea (AHN) - Five countries fed up with hijackings of commercial ships off Somalia's coast are seeking the authority to conduct military operations against African pirates.

The United Kingdom, Denmark, France, South Korea and Spain will ask the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to approve a resolution allowing military rescue of ships attacked or under attack from Somali pirates. The countries will make the proposal in the IMO's meeting in London this month.

An official from South Korea's Foreign Ministry said the countries will also explain to Somalia the need for military intervention and ask its government to allow such action in special cases.

The move is similar to what the U.S. is doing. The unnamed official said U.S. warships have confronted Somali pirates several times without first obtaining permission from Mogadishu.

Seoul also wants to stop pirates from attacking South Korean ships and kidnapping South Korean crews. Somali pirates hijacked two South Korean-owned vessels in May and took four South Korean officers hostage together with the vessels' other crews.