BRUSSELS: Pirates have seized a chemical tanker in the south Somali Basin with 28 North Koreans aboard, the EU's anti-piracy mission in the region said in a statement Tuesday.

"On November 16 a Virgin Islands owned (operated from Singapore) Chemical Tanker named the MV Theresa VIII was hijacked in the south Somali Basin, 180 nautical miles North West of the Seychelles," EUNAVFOR said.

"Theresa VIII has a deadweight of 22,294 tonnes and a crew of 28 North Koreans. The vessel, which was heading for Mombasa (Kenya), has turned around and is now heading north," the short statement said.