S. Korea to send anti-pirate warships

SEOUL, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- South Korea will move to protect its fishing vessels by sending a fleet of armed Navy ships to pirate-infested waters off Somalia, sources say.

The South Korean news agency Yonhap quoted unnamed sources Wednesday as saying leaders have decided tuna fishermen operating off the Somali coast need armed escorts to ward off pirates.

"There is consensus that we send warships there, although a final decision has yet to be made through consultations among related ministries," the source said.

An official South Korean government team was visiting Somalia to assess the situation, Yonhap said.

The moves follows the abduction of eight South Koreans last month off Somalia. The sailors were eventually released unharmed. Last year, two fishing vessels were seized and the crews released after six months in captivity.

The United Nations Security Council has approved a measure designed to step up the fight against piracy off Somalia, calling for all states to contribute to anti-piracy efforts by dispatching warships and aircraft.