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South Korean Navy Patrol Saves North Korean Ship From Pirates

by Yuliya Talmazan | May 4, 2009 at 03:34 pm

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In a twist of irony, a South Korean navy patrol has saved a North Korean ship from pirates off the coast of Somalia, when the later sent out a distress call. The South Korean snipers were sent out, chasing away the pirates. The North Korean ship had event sent a 'thank you' note to the South Korean navy patrol.

A South Korean naval patrol has saved a North Korean ship from attack by pirates in the sea off Somalia, military officials in Seoul have said.

South Korea's joint chiefs of staff said in a statement on Monday the unnamed North Korean ship had sent a distress call that it was being chased by pirates.

Snipers were sent to the area on board a helicopter after a South Korean warship picked up the signal.

The pirates gave up the chase after the snipers fired warning shots, the statement said.

The statement said the North Korean ship had sent a message of thanks to the South Korean warship, but did not say when the incident took place.

The incident comes amid increasingly tense relations between North and South Korea amid rows over the North's nuclear weapons programme and its recent controversial rocket launch.

The North announced earlier this year that it was scrapping all peace pacts with the South.

North and South Korea remain officially at war having never signed a peace treaty ending the 1950-53 Korean War.