Somali pirates attacked two vessels on Monday and hijacked one of them. The North Korean chemical tanker had 28 crew members on board.

The other was a Ukrainian cargo ship. The European Union’s anti-piracy force said that the attack was repelled. Two pirates were wounded in the fire opened.

Meanwhile, pirates freed a Spanish trawler on Tuesday with its 36 crew members after holding them for 6 weeks.

3.3 million dollars were paid to the pirates in ransom.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said that all the crew members were safe and sound.

Sea pirates have kidnapped 38 vessels along with its 667 crew members since the New Year.

An average of 20 thousand vessels passes through the Gulf of Aden every year.