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N. Korea Thanks U.S. Over Piracy Standoff
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[November 08, 2007]
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- North Korea is grateful to the United States for helping the crew of a North Korean cargo ship fight off pirates in waters off Somalia, the North's official news agency said Thursday.
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 The North's Korean Central News Agency said the incident was a "symbol of cooperation" between the two countries "in the struggle against terrorism."
Last week, the U.S. Navy boarded the North Korean ship Dai Hong Dan to provide medical assistance at the crew's invitation after they had already overpowered and detained all pirates.
"The pirates' recent armed attack on our trading ship was a grave terrorist act perpetrated against a peaceful ship," KCNA said. "We feel grateful to the United States for its assistance given to our crewmen."
KCNA said that seven pirates, "disguised as guards," boarded the North Korean vessel on Oct. 29, and demanded that the sailors pay them $15,000 and move the ship to the waters they want.
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 piracy came as relations between Washington and Pyongyang have improved on progress in their nuclear dispute.
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 The main U.S. nuclear envoy, Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, said Friday that the U.S. military helped the North Korean ship as a goodwill gesture.
The incident also came as the United States is considering removing North Korea from the U.S. list of states sponsoring terrorism as a reward for Pyongyang to shut down and disable its sole operational nuclear reactor that produces plutonium.
"It is the consistent principled stand of the (North Korean) government to oppose all sorts of terrorism," KCNA said. "We will continue to render international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, in the future, too."
North Korea was put on the terror list for involvement in the 1987 bombing of a South Korean civilian jet that killed all 115 people aboard.
Pyongyang has long demanded it be removed from the list, claiming that the designation is a sign of U.S. hostility.
[Associated
Press; By JAE-SOON CHANG]
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