South Korea will chair the next meeting of an international forum aimed at fighting Somali pirates, Seoul's foreign ministry said Thursday.
The 7th plenary session of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) will be held in New York on Wednesday, bringing together about 50 nations and global institutions to discuss cooperation in military operations, law enforcement against piracy, self-defence measures for the shipping industry, and enhancing the capacities of Somalia and nearby countries.
The CGPCS was launched in January 2009 under a United Nations Security Council resolution and is one of the largest and most authoritative inter-governmental groups established for the purpose, according to the ministry.
A South Korean fishing vessel, carrying two South Koreans, two Chinese and 39 Kenyans, was hijacked by Somali pirates last month. Another South Korean ship with 24 crew members is also currently being held captive after it was seized by Somali pirates in April.