The Cheonghae unit of naval commandos returned home Friday after completing a six-month anti-piracy mission in waters near Somalia that included a successful Jan. 21 operation to rescue the 21-member crew of the South Korean-owned freighter Samho Jewelry from the hands of Somali pirates.
On Monday, Lee invited about 300 unit members to a luncheon at the presidential office.
"I welcome that 300 members of the Cheonghae unit returned home safely after completing the mission successfully," Lee said during the luncheon. "While on duty in Somali waters, you made unprecedented history by safeguarding the lives and properties of our people."
What makes a country an advanced nation is that it carries out a large-scale military operation to save the lives of one citizen or two, Lee said, adding that the January operation was South Korea`s expression of its firm commitment to protecting its citizens wherever they are in the world.
The January raid came six days after the cargo ship was hijacked by Somali pirates. All 21 crew members were rescued alive, though the ship`s captain suffered multiple gunshot wounds. The captain, Seok Hae-kyun, has been recovering after several rounds of surgery.
The commandos killed eight pirates and captured five others alive during the raid.
The five were then brought to South Korea to stand trial. On Friday, a court in the port city of Busan sentenced one of them, who was accused of shooting the captain, to life in prison. Three others were handed prison terms of 13 to 15 years.
A verdict for the fifth pirate is due on Wednesday.
(T.A045/H-AK)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
