South Korea says it will not negotiate with the Somali pirates who hijacked South Korea’s “Geummi 305” trawler in the seas off the coast of Kenya last October.

Interest has been rising in regards to the trawler following the South Korean military’s rescue of a South Korean freighter and its 21 crew members from Somali pirates last Friday.

Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan told reporters Tuesday that Seoul aims to deter additional hijackings of South Korean vessels by making it clear that it will not negotiate with pirates.

Kim said, however, that South Korea is pursuing other means to help resolve the situation.

In line with a previous statement by the Defense Ministry, Kim also ruled out the swapping of pirates captured during last Friday’s rescue for the crew of the Geummi 305.

Two South Koreans are among the 49 crew members of the Geummi trawler.