Somali pirates hijack Japanese cargo ship

Seoul: Pirates have hijacked a Japanese cargo ship off the coast of Somalia, South Korea's foreign ministry said on Sunday.

The ship was carrying 23 sailors, including five South Koreans, when it was seized on Saturday, the Yonhap news agency reported.

Details on the pirates and the safety of the sailors were not immediately available, it said.

South Korea is considering dispatching a naval ship to the area to protect its vessels and sailors.