A South Korean freighter hijacked by Somali pirates that was rescued last Friday by the South Korean military is reportedly waiting to enter the Omani port of Muscat.

An official from the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in Seoul said Monday that the “Samho Jewelry” is anchored in waters near the port and that it is being escorted by South Korea’s 45-hundred-ton “Choe Young” destroyer.

The official said that efforts to enter the port have been delayed, as negotiations have yet to conclude on how to deal with the five captured pirates and the bodies of the eight pirates who were killed during the rescue operation.

The official said the South Korean freighter will likely enter the port around Thursday.

The official also downplayed concerns that efforts to protect South Korean ships in the Gulf of Aden could face setbacks due to the delay in the Choe Young destroyer’s return to its area of duty.

The official noted that there are some 20 other ships from other countries serving similar missions in the Gulf of Aden.

The official said the South’s “Cheonghae Unit,” which led the rescue operation, will be redeployed to regions near the Gulf of Aden early next month once the Samho Jewelry enters port.