South Korea Releases Video of Raid on Hijacked Ship
- Posted on January 23, 2011 at 9:45am by
Scott Baker
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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea released a video Sunday of a dramatic raid by commandos on a hijacked ship in the Arabian Sea that rescued all 21 crew members and killed eight Somali pirates.
The 4 1/2-minute video provided by the military shows parts of the pre-dawn raid Friday, which came a week after pirates seized the cargo ship and its crew of eight South Koreans, two Indonesians and 11 Myanmar citizens.
The video shows South Korean commandos in a small boat readying to climb onto the freighter amid gunshots. The commandos are then seen trying to enter a door and then bringing out some hostages, with a navy helicopter shining searchlights on the vessel.
Later, several captured Somali pirates are shown kneeling on the ship as South Korean soldiers carrying rifles stand nearby. The video, taken by a nearby South Korean destroyer, shows the 1,500-ton chemical carrier Samho Jewelry pockmarked with bullet holes.
None of the crew members was injured except for the captain, who was shot in the stomach by a pirate but his condition is not life-threatening, according to South Korea’s military.
In November, a South Korean-operated supertanker and its 24 crew — five South Koreans and 19 Filipinos — were freed after seven months of captivity amid reports that a record ransom of up to $9.5 million had been paid to Somali pirates.
Friday‘s raid was a triumph for South Korea’s president and military. Both came under harsh criticism at home for being too slow and weak in their response to a North Korean attack in November on a South Korean island near disputed waters that killed two marines and two civilians.
It came on the same day that Malaysia’s navy successfully rescued a chemical tanker and its 23 crew members from Somali pirates. Seven pirates were apprehended.
Despite the two recent successful raids, the European Union Naval Force has said it will not follow suit because such raids could further endanger hostages.
Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991, during which time piracy has flourished off its coast.
There are now 29 vessels and 703 hostages being held by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The country lies next to one of the world’s most important shipping routes, which connects the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea beyond.
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Patsplace
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 8:26pmWhile I certainly don’t advocate the death penalty for all crimes by any stretch of the imagination, there are some crimes that apply and Piracy is one of them!!
Report Post »Ham
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 8:04pmPunkMooCow
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 11:41am
why wait for them to attack, lets just wipe out a pirate city for each attack, successful or not, on a US flagged ship.
I am with you all the way on this. It will stop one way or the other.
Report Post »jackkemo
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 4:23pmI wanna kill some pirates too….I say we bring back privateering!!1
Report Post »Tipdog
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 3:18pmI think a MK19 might be a little more appropriate then a M2.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 1:48pmThats right SK! Keep stepping up while we step back. Goodluck!
Report Post »amr632
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 1:16pmThere was a time under President Jefferson that we did not tolerate piracy. Yes, we and other Western nation have navy patols in the area now, but we generally are so dang PC about it; mostly catch and release except for that one time when the US Navy SEALs were given their head. It will continue until the pirates fear us more than their greed commands them to attack. Anyone with an ounce of sense should be able to understand that aspect of human nature. But government people are generally risk averse. Meanwhile, we waste precious ocean power and money patrolling and doing little.
Report Post »B4B
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 12:44pm“Despite the two recent successful raids, the European Union Naval Force has said it will not follow suit because such raids could further endanger hostages.”
Report Post »And make the pirates angry.
1minuteman
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 12:30pmall these rescues are reactions. one thing i liked about bush was he was proactive. we need to hit where they come from and show them there are consequences for their actions. let some metal rain come down on specifice areas of somalia where the drug lords rule and watch how these high jackings become fewer and fewer. i know its not politically correct so it wont happen and so the jackings will also continue.
Report Post »Grimace
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 11:56amOnly problem I see is that they took 5 prisoners. These prisoners will probably be sent back to Somalia and they’ll be back on the seas pirating again.
Report Post »JL3
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 11:44amPaid ex military people would love the target practice protecting these ships.
Report Post »CameronIL
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 11:35amArming those ships would stop it dead in their tracks.
Report Post »Evileye
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:53amHired mercenary sniper board ship with 50 cal riffle .
Report Post »Pirates at one thousand yards. shoot hole in boat it sinks shark eat pirate.
Sniper paid $1000.00
Pick up by helo..
This would happen 2 or 3 times then no more pirates
Snowleopard-the artist {cat folk artist}
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 12:14pmBetter idea, offer said sniper bounty on each pirate in boat of 100.00 per confirmed ‘elimination’.
Report Post »Libertyship46
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:53amWe should be seeing more of this, not less. Never negotiate with pirates. Once they understand that there is no money to be made from piracy and that only death or prison awaits them if they do try taking a ship, then they will either go to other, “softer” targets, or they will simply give up. Modern-day piracy is a scourge and a horror and needs to be eliminated as soon as possible, before it encourages even more of these people from trying the same thing. Problem is, if we do win the war against these pirates, what will these criminals do in the future to make money? Will they turn to the international drug trade, or terrorism to blackmail countries out of some cash? Only way to solve this problem is to somehow “fix” Somalia, which is a failed nation state. But how anyone can solve that mess is anyone’s guess.
Report Post »SlippedThroughAWormHole
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:52amWhat is happening on the high seas is the same thing that will happen here if the lefties have their way with gun control legislation. Law abiding citizens will have no way to defend themselves from criminals and a government bent on controlling the population. Totally at the mercy of others. NO THANK YOU!
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 11:21amGun control sucks.
Report Post »But there are ways to defend oneself even if guns are outlawed.
Law abiding citizens will no longer abide by laws when there are no longer any laws and only the laws of nature are left between night and day.
Untameable-kate
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 11:57amUlyssesP
But there are ways to defend oneself even if guns are outlawed
I hate it when I have to bring a knife to a gun fight.
Report Post »If guns are outlawed then I will be an outlaw. They can’t have my guns.
PA PATRIOT
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 12:08pmUntameable-kate
You know better than that… forget the knife…bring two guns.
Report Post »Snowleopard-the artist {cat folk artist}
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 12:08pm@Untamable
Agreed, if need be, I still know how to use an old fashion sling; one stone placed just right can sting or do major harm, depending on how you wish to do it.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 9:27pmThe art of making a Zip-Gun has been lost. The 50′s was the era of invention. Obumma said to make things didn’t he?
Report Post »ladyda
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:52amYeah! Arm & train all ship staff…..radius alarm for approaching anythings……immediately sink the “anythings”. ….Sail away…. Done!
Report Post »Xcori8r
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:43amGeez, you can probably Google Earth and find the ships. All it takes are the brass ones the South Koreans obviously have to put an end to this silliness.
Report Post »Snowleopard-the artist {cat folk artist}
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:51am@Xcor
You have identified the one part of our administration that is missing; so we know full well nothing will ever be done about these pirates, and even the one time Obama did give the order to rescue the ship captain taken by the pirates, that must have been a fluke.
Report Post »UH60L13
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:43amI say Nuke Somalia and all will be well!!!
Report Post »Snowleopard-the artist {cat folk artist}
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:53amI could see the UPS delivery package arriving…
{Pirate ruler: “Hmm, a package for little old me from the friends of the USA? Oh wonderful…(bright flash of light)…uh, allah, why is there fire and brimstone everywhere and the dude with the red suit and pitchfork is looking at me so funny?”
Report Post »ForeignWatcher
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 2:21pmhow about slaughtering the women and children by hand first?
Report Post »My 2 cents
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:42amThese pirates are nothing more than human parasites and should be exterminated at every opportunity.
Report Post »Snowleopard-the artist {cat folk artist}
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:49amAgreed.
Report Post »TruthTalker
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:30amThe footage wasnt very good. Shows none of the strike force action. Good for the South Koreans in standing up to the scum though.
Report Post »hud
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:25amAirborne– Common Sense we don‘t want no stink’n common sense, not in the age of Obummer and PC.
Report Post »fivebyfive
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:15amDRONES on EVERY ship operated by land based security. Crew can call in potential attack, go to a citidel(locked safe room aboard ship) and wait for the all clear
flamingskinnys in the water
Report Post »Muslim in Chief
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:00amPWNED BItchez!!
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 9:55amNice operation! I would still train and arm the crews. You wouldn’t have to worry about hostages if the bad guys never got aboard. You would be firing down, great advantage, at a small craft that was being tossed around in the open ocean. Those huge ships off a very steady firing platform. I wouldn’t hide my armaments either. I’d make them think there was a .50 every ten feet!
Report Post »Snowleopard-the artist {cat folk artist}
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:09amAgreed, train the crews and let them be able to defend themselves more completely when these pirates launch an assault. The world also needs to get serious about cleaning out the nests in which these idiotic pirates operate and eliminate as much of the problem at the source as possible.
Report Post »MR_ANDERSON
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:09amNo, hide the armament. Pirates need to realize there are repercussions for their actions. Those final few seconds of the pirate’s life should be filled with thoughts of regret. If they don’t know which ships have the armaments, then they are less likely to attack any.
Report Post »Snowleopard-the artist {cat folk artist}
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:22am@82ndAirborne
I could imagine the converstation between pirates and the ship crew:
{Pirate: “We will have the surrender of your ship now before we board, there will be no…”
Report Post »{Loud noise occures.
{Pirate boat and pirates full of holes slowly sinks beneath the waves.
{Ship captain: “Pirate ship, your transmision has broken up due to some heavy firepower…”
82dAirborne
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 11:14am@Snow – I saw that “grin” every time a soldier fired one! Especially the first time. There is definitely a rush involved.
The best look however are the expressions involved in a soldiers first few jumps! Try stepping out of an aircraft flying at 150 knots, 800 feet above the earth at three o’clock in the morning. That will get your attention!!
Report Post »PunkMooCow
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 11:41amwhy wait for them to attack, lets just wipe out a pirate city for each attack, successful or not, on a US flagged ship.
Report Post »Untameable-kate
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 11:53amPA PATRIOT
Report Post »Thanks for the link. Man, sometimes you gotta love those Russians. Too bad more countries don’t get in there and just unload on these scumbag pirates. If the world took Russias lead in this pirate situation maybe the Somalis would put more effort into correcting the situation in their country to make it a decent place to live.
Snowleopard-the artist {cat folk artist}
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 12:06pm@PA Patriot
Say what people will of the Russians, yes they indeed know how to deal with pirates.
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 12:12pmExcellent work. I guess the pirates will think twice about attacking a South Korean flagged ship from now on. There should be no appeasement or “understanding” shown to the pirates as they are ruthless and will continue to attack the weakest country’s vessels at the weakest point.
I am astounded that the European Union Naval Force has publically said that they will not attack pirates. They have just put the “crosshairs” over their vessels and endangered the crews that they purport to be protecting. As Margaret Thatcher once said to the first President Bush when he refused to press home the coalition advantage in Desert Storm; “George, this is no time to get wobbly”.
Report Post »Snowleopard-the artist {cat folk artist}
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 12:13pmI forgot to add this part to my previous post “Russian catch and release program.” That indeed does give new meaning to the phrase of ‘catch and release’ when it comes to fishing. Russian justice is often stern and barbaric compared to American justice, yet I can see sometimes where it gets the point across a lot more efficiently than here.
Report Post »Sledgehammer
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 1:56pmMy out look on how these fine young citizens of the world should be handled, is simple kill ‘em all, let God sort it out! Hats off to the troops of the Republic of Korea, nicely played.
Report Post »ForeignWatcher
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 2:18pmAnd again the line between applauding a, as it seems, well done operation an promoting murder and drowning of captured criminals is crossed in the first few posts. quite disgusting, aint it?
Didnt i see you write for animal rights and the like untameblekate? But the murdering of captives is ok?
Report Post »