It may get worse before it gets better

I have a bad feeling over the seizure of 28 North Korean merchant sailors aboard a chemical tanker by Somali pirates. In a week when the navies of North and South Korea have clashed resulting in sailors killed and wounded, the prospect of the North Koreans showing any patience with criminals illegally kidnapping their citizens doesn’t seem likely. Idly standing by and simply negotiating doesn't appear to be the North Korean way. This latest kidnapping is way beyond the seizure of 2 pensioners on a small yacht. When we do see a fleet of North Korean warships in the Indian Ocean blasting Somali pirates out of the water, the world will do what exactly? It would be strange turnaround if the European Union Naval Force were suddenly defending the Somalis.


nick