Two Korean Crew Members Abducted off West Africa... Ministry of Foreign Affairs Forms Emergency Response Team (Comprehensive)

Estimated area of Korean crew abduction. (Red + sign) / Screenshot from 'Dryad Global' homepage

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] It has been reported that a vessel carrying two Korean crew members was attacked by armed forces on the 28th (local time) off the coast of Ghana in West Africa.

According to the British maritime intelligence company 'Dryad Global' and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at around 7:30 a.m. on the 28th, the Ghanaian tuna fishing vessel 'AP703', operating about 200 km south of Lom? Port, Togo, was attacked by armed forces.

It is reported that there were 48 people on board the fishing vessel, including two Korean crew members.

The armed forces reportedly transferred only the two Korean crew members to another vessel and fled toward Nigeria. The number and whereabouts of the armed forces are not yet accurately identified.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has formed a task force for the protection of overseas nationals and established an emergency response team at the relevant diplomatic mission. The Ministry stated, "We will make every effort to secure the release of the abducted crew members through close cooperation with authorities in Ghana, Nigeria, and other countries."

This is the second incident of Korean abduction at sea in West Africa in two months. Previously, on June 24, five Korean crew members aboard the 'Panofi Frontier', who were fishing about 111 km from the port of Cotonou, Benin, in West Africa, were attacked and kidnapped by armed forces. They were released in southern Nigeria last month on the 24th and returned home on the 23rd of this month.

The Gulf of Guinea area, including the waters off Togo and Ghana, was designated by our government as a "high-risk piracy area" on the 3rd of last month, and fishing suspension was recommended through overseas diplomatic missions and shipowners. On the 26th, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha urged Nigeria's Foreign Minister during a phone call to take active measures to strengthen maritime security in West Africa.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.