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China-Japan-Koreas

DPRK thanks U.S., reaffirms anti-terrorism stance

2007-11-09

(Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday expressed thanks to the U.S. Navy for helping Korean sailors defeat pirates off the Somali coast in late October and reaffirmed that it opposes any forms of terrorist acts. "We feel grateful to the United States for its assistance given to our crewmen," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

This the first time DPRK official media has reported details of the incident, in which a DPRK ship was hijacked off the Somali coast at the end of last month. The DPRK-registered cargo ship DIA HONGA DAN was hijacked by seven armed pirates disguised as guards on Oct. 29. The crew of the hijacked ship successfully seized weapons from pirates and defeated seven of them and regained control of the ship with the help of a U.S. Navy destroyer and a helicopter the next day.

"This case serves as a symbol of DPRK-U.S. cooperation in the struggle against terrorism," the KCNA said. "It is the consistent, principled stance of the DPRK government to oppose all forms of terrorism," it said, adding that "we will continue to render international cooperation in the fight against terrorism in the future".

Posted by:Fred

#8 I wonder how much of the "seized weapons from the pirates and defeated seven of them" is true and how much is propaganda.

Soviets and Chinese merchant marines were/are considered naval auxiliary. I suspect the same thing for North Korea.

Likely a significant majority (if not all) of the crew was either active military or had received military training at some point. Factor in the pirates not exactly being grade-A material...

Posted by: Pappy 2007-11-09 21:47

#7 Too bad it wasn't one of those "cement" shipments to Syria.

Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2007-11-09 12:28

#6 I wonder how much of the "seized weapons from the pirates and defeated seven of them" is true and how much is propaganda.

Posted by: DoDo 2007-11-09 12:26

#5 From the horse's mouth...

DPRK's Consistent Principled Stand to Fight against All Forms of Terrorism Reiterated

Pyongyang, November 8 (KCNA) -- 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: tu3031 2007-11-09 09:54

#4 Must be Kimmie is going to die soon.

Posted by: gorb 2007-11-09 03:13

#3 I read it that they coudn't find any way to spin it, so they settled for "render international cooperation".

Posted by: twobyfour 2007-11-09 00:50

#2 CHOSUN ILBO > NK is banning all women aged 45 and under from participating in street markets. STREET MARKETS,, i.e. FOOD, GOODS, are a threat to NK since the former are viewed as preventing women from participating/focusing in Govt- preferred-mandated "public works". NK MEN STILL BANNED FROM ENGAGING IN TRADE??? IOW, FACTORIES, OFFICES GOOD FOR WOMEN, HUNGRY FAMILIES, AND NK SOCIALISM - PRIVATE SELLING, FARMS, AND FOOD NOT GOOD???

Also in CHOSUN ILBO > ROH: "FULL DENUCLEARIZATION" IS UNREALISTIC BEFORE PEACE TALKS.

Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-11-09 00:31

#1 Mebbe it's like when the Federation helped the Klingons at Kitamer.

You never know.

Posted by: Gabby Cussworth 2007-11-09 00:21

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