Somali pirates have released a chemical tanker and its 28 North Korean crew.<br/><br/>Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers Assistance Programme, said a ransom of about 3.5 million had been paid. Mr Mwangura said it was freed today and the crew is safe.<br/><br/>The Singapore-operated MV Theresa VIII was seized in November in the south Somali Basin north of the Seychelles. The tanker had been heading for Mombasa, Kenya, when it was hijacked.