17 Countries Joining Forces to Fight Piracy in Asia

- MOF to host the 2024 Asia Anti-Piracy Convention Management Meeting in Incheon for five days

 The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF, Minister Kang Do-hyung) will hold the 2024 Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Capacity-Building Senior Officers' Meeting (CBSOM) at the Oakwood Premier Hotel in Incheon from November 25 (Monday) to 29 (Friday).

 Jointly organized by MOF and ReCAAP Information Sharing Center (ReCAAP-ISC), this meeting will be attended by approximately 40 participants including piracy officials from the agreement's contracting countries, representatives from the relevant domestic agencies such as MOF, Ministry of National Defense, Korea Coast Guard, Korea Shipping Association, and members of private organizations.

 Over the past five years, damage from maritime robberies has been increasing in Asian waters, including threats to sailors such as temporary detention. To address this, ReCAAP-ISC holds annual workshops and conferences to strengthen cooperation between contracting countries and enhance the capacity of officials to prevent damage from piracy.

 This management meeting will discuss key topics including sharing △major piracy prevention policies of the Korean government, △ReCAAP-ISC's piracy trends in Asia, and △policy examples from foreign governments. Discussions will focus on measures to deter piracy activities in the Asia-Pacific region and strengthen the capabilities of contracting countries to prevent and respond to piracy incidents.

 “It is essential to enhance the response capabilities of member countries against piracy in Asian waters and strengthen cooperation between nations to ensure the safe navigation of vessels and maintain the stability of international maritime supply chains. I expect this meeting to develop further the anti-piracy policies of the governments of the participating countries,” said Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kang Do-hyung.