South Korean destroyer rescues 5 Yemeni fishermen after repelling pirates

SKorean destroyer rescues 5 Yemeni fishermen

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s military says one of its destroyers has repelled pirates pursuing cargo ships off the coast of Yemen and rescued five Yemeni fishermen.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff say the destroyer dispatched a helicopter Saturday after learning that pirates were chasing the three cargo ships off Yemen’s southern coast.

They said in a statement Sunday that the destroyer later arrived at the scene, inspected the two pirate ships and rescued five Yemeni fishermen held by them. It said no fighting or injuries occurred.

A South Korean destroyer has been operating off lawless Somalia since April as part of an international anti-piracy campaign.

Military officials say it’s the ninth time that South Korean forces have repelled pirates.