"Pirates On Board": Tanker Sends Desperate SOS, South Korean Warship Dispatched

An incident involving unauthorized individuals boarding a tanker sailing in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Yemen has been reported, with a South Korean warship reportedly heading toward the scene.

According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) on the 17th (local time), a report was received around 11:00 a.m. that unauthorized personnel had boarded the chemical tanker 'Asana' while it was sailing approximately 120 km away from the Yemeni port city of Al Mukalla.

The British maritime security firm Ambrey identified the boarding party as suspected Somali pirates and stated that the tanker did not appear to have a private armed security team on board.

Ambrey further reported that a South Korean warship is heading to the area in response to the distress signal sent by the vessel.

As the South Korean naval unit currently conducting missions in the Gulf of Aden is the ROKS Wang Geon of the 48th Cheonghae Unit, it is highly likely that this is the vessel in question.

However, the actual arrival of the South Korean warship at the scene, the exact identity of the boarding party, and whether any hostages have been taken have not yet been officially confirmed.

This incident comes as security concerns surrounding key Middle Eastern maritime routes are escalating in the wake of recent military clashes between the United States and Iran.

Military confrontations between the U.S. and Iran continue in the Strait of Hormuz, while threats to vessels by the pro-Iranian Houthi rebels in Yemen persist in the Red Sea.

With Somali pirate activity also resurfacing in the Gulf of Aden, the entire Middle Eastern maritime transport network is facing new sources of instability.

Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Lee Jung-ju | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.