The government says the safety of the crew of a South Korean freighter hijacked by Somali pirates on Saturday has been confirmed.

A Foreign Ministry official said Monday that Samho Shipping, which owns the hijacked “Samho Jewelry,” has again contacted the vessel and reaffirmed that all 21 crew members, including eight South Koreans, are safe.

The Cheonghae Unit's “Choi Young” destroyer is expected to arrive Tuesday at the site where the freighter is located.

The government is trying its best to prevent the leakage of any related information in order to secure the safe and swift release of the crew.

Meanwhile, the Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs Ministry called in officials from the shipping industry to discuss ways to strengthen security for South Korean vessels, as well as ways to prevent a recurrence.