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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| A word of thanks from North Korea; bills itself as U.S. partner 'against terrorism' |
| 2007-11-15 |
| In an extremely rare public expression, North Korea officially thanked the United States for helping the crew of a North Korean cargo ship hijacked by pirates off the Somali coast late last month, describing the rescue as a symbol of Washington-Pyongyang rapprochement. "We feel grateful to the United States for its assistance given to our crewmen. This case serves as a symbol of the DPRK [North Korea]-U.S. cooperation in the struggle against terrorism," the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency said. Seven pirates, "disguised as guards," boarded the North Korean vessel on Oct. 29 and demanded that the sailors pay them $15,000. Responding to a distress signal from the North Korean vessel, the USS James E. Williams and a helicopter rushed to the scene and "helped the [North Korean] sailors in fighting, threatening the pirates over walkie-talkie," KCNA said. The U.S. response was basically, "just doing our job." It was an unprecedented move in the half century of hostility between the Cold War foes. The U.S. sailors also provided medical assistance to the crew. "The pirates' recent armed attack on our trading ship was a grave terrorist act perpetrated against a peaceful ship," KCNA said. "It is the consistent principled stand of the [North Korean] government to oppose all sorts of terrorism,” it said. "We will continue to render international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, in the future, too," said the official mouthpiece of North Korea, which has been on the U.S. list of countries that sponsor terrorism since 1988 and labeled by President Bush as part of an "axis of evil." The United States and North Korea are technically at war since the Korean War ended in an armistice agreement in 1953. Under a recent landmark deal, the United Sates has promised to improve bilateral ties as a reward for North Korea to disable its nuclear weapons facilities. In other symbols of thawing ties, the North's Taekwondo demonstration team made its first-ever visit to the United States in September and officials from the New York Philharmonic visited Pyongyang in October to consider a possible concert there next year. |
| Posted by:Delphi |
| #5 NKors or not, they put up more fight than any other crew I can think of faced with Somali pirates. |
| Posted by: Grunter 2007-11-15 22:53 |
| #4 Here's the entire story. The Korean Central News Agency released Thursday the following detailed report on the recent pirate attack on the DPRK-flagged trading ship “Taehongdan” in waters off Somalia: On Oct. 29, 2007 when it was anchored at roads ready for departure after discharging cargo at Mogadishu Port, Somalia the ship came under a surprise attack by seven armed pirates disguised as guards. All the crewmen were detained at a steering room and an engine room. The pirates demanded the crewmen pay a ransom of 15,000 U.S. dollars and navigate to the waters designated by them, opening fire to threaten them. The sailors, however, remained unperturbed under this dangerous situation created all of a sudden. They fought to beat back the pirates’ attack. They switched on an automatic warning device and waged a fierce gunfight against the pirates after seizing weapons from two terrorists who were standing guard over the engine room. As the steering room was occupied by the pirates, they sailed towards the open sea by use of steering engine for emergency operation and life boat compass, while battling on to overpower the remaining pirates. In the meantime, upon receiving a SOS sent by the ship, an institution concerned in the DPRK officially informed the International Maritime Organization and the Piracy Reporting Centre of the IMB stationed in Malaysia of the incident and asked for help. At the request of the above-said centre, U.S. navy’s destroyer James E. Williams and a helicopter rushed to the scene and helped the DPRK sailors in fighting, threatening the pirates over walkie-talkie. As a result, at around 16:30 on Oct. 30, i.e. about 20 hours after the start of the fight, the pirates dropped arms and surrendered. The ship was completely recaptured by its sailors. One pirate was killed and six crewmen of the DPRK were wounded in the fight. A surgeon of the U.S. destroyer provided first-aid treatment and other medical service to our wounded crewmen. Our cargo ship made a safe voyage to its destination through a regular sea route. The pirates’ recent armed attack on our trading ship was a grave terrorist act perpetrated against a peaceful ship. It is the consistent principled stand of the DPRK government to oppose all sorts of terrorism. As shown by our crewmen through their actions, it is the disposition of the Korean people to fight out any terrorist act on the spot though they are empty-handed. We feel grateful to the United States for its assistance given to our crewmen. This case serves as a symbol of the DPRK-U.S. cooperation in the struggle against terrorism. We will continue to render international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, in the future, too. |
| Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2007-11-15 18:44 |
| #3 Give Kim a case or 3 of his favorite Hennessey And some lead crystal to go with it. Without the crystal, of course. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-11-15 17:24 |
| #2 Give Kim a case or 3 of his favorite Hennessey as a way of saying "you are welcome". |
| Posted by: 3dc 2007-11-15 17:03 |
| #1 A word of thanks from North Korea; Bills itself as U.S. partner 'against terrorism' I suggest we give the Anti-Terrorist Norkie Partners B61 Reciepts for all their Bills. |
| Posted by: Red Dawg 2007-11-15 16:22 |