South Korea is set to dispatch a fresh batch of troops to the Gulf of Aden for anti-piracy efforts off of the coast of Somalia. The deployment is comprised of a 300-strong contingent and will be fundamental in addressing the threat of piracy.
The 30th batch of the Cheonghae Unit is scheduled to depart the southern port city of Busan later in the day to conduct anti-piracy missions off the coast of Somalia for six months starting in September, according to the Navy.
The troops will be operating the 4,400-ton destroyer, the Kang Gam Chan aimed at protecting South Korean vessels off the Somali coast and providing support to ships of other nations in nearby waters.
The Kang Gam Chan will have special forces, including an Underwater Demolition Team, a Navy SEAL team, Marines and Navy pilots as part of the deployment. The Cheonghae unit has been deployed in the Gulf of Aden since early 2009 as part of global efforts to tackle piracy in the region.
While speculation surrounding the deployment indicates that the deployment maybe strategic based on the speculation to Iran it has not been confirmed and as such is a welcome addition to the anti-piracy operation in the Indian Ocean.
