Somali pirates free South Korean sailors
- 11 years ago
A day that's been a long time coming.
On a Somali beach, four South Korean sailors abducted by pirates 19 months ago are released.
The MT Gemini tanker was hijacked by pirates on April 30, 2011 while heading from Kenya to Malaysia, with the four sailors and 21 non-Korean crew members on board.
The pirates released the vessel and the non-Korean sailors seven months later, but kept the other four - including the captain - captive.
Safe on a navy vessel, they have their first taste of freedom in 582 days.
(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) MT GEMINI CAPTAIN PARK HYUN-YEOL SAYING:
"I cannot say anything -- thank you very, very much. My crew had a really difficult time, it's my fault."
Their release comes as ransom talks progressed, after the pirates withdrew their demand that five of their colleagues serving terms in South Korean jails be freed.
On a Somali beach, four South Korean sailors abducted by pirates 19 months ago are released.
The MT Gemini tanker was hijacked by pirates on April 30, 2011 while heading from Kenya to Malaysia, with the four sailors and 21 non-Korean crew members on board.
The pirates released the vessel and the non-Korean sailors seven months later, but kept the other four - including the captain - captive.
Safe on a navy vessel, they have their first taste of freedom in 582 days.
(SOUNDBITE) (Korean) MT GEMINI CAPTAIN PARK HYUN-YEOL SAYING:
"I cannot say anything -- thank you very, very much. My crew had a really difficult time, it's my fault."
Their release comes as ransom talks progressed, after the pirates withdrew their demand that five of their colleagues serving terms in South Korean jails be freed.