Korean Navy soldiers are to be sent to the sea area of Somalia to carry out ship protection and anti-terrorism activities.

At the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday (Jan. 20), presided over by President Lee Myung-bak, one of the plans approved was the decision to dispatch a 310-strong naval contingent to Somalia.

According to the plan, a 4,500-ton destroyer equipped with a helicopter and three cannons will be sent to the troubled waters and the military operation will last until the last day of this year.

The United Nations Security Council last October asked its member countries to provide military support to fight against piracy in Somali Sea by adopting a resolution.

Since then, the Korean government has conducted investigation around the sea area by dispatching a fact-finding mission to Bahrain and Djibouti.

The dispatch plan approved by the government has yet to be endorsed by the National Assembly.