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(LEAD) (News Focus) Freed N. Korean vessel opens new window for U.S.-N. Korea ties
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Oct. 31 (Yonhap) -- A U.S. Navy destroyer helped a North Korean cargo ship escape a hijacking by pirates off the coast of Somalia on Tuesday, an incident which may bode well for the growing detente between the two nations, as sentiments remain upbeat over ongoing talks on the North's denuclearization.
Officials here noted the incident will work positively in efforts to denuclearize the communist North, as it came just one day before the chief nuclear negotiators of the U.S. and North Korea were to meet for discussions on denuclearization, normalization of ties between the former Cold War foes and other issues.
It was early Tuesday when the USS James E. Williams, operating near Somalia, received a request from the International Maritime Bureau to investigate a North Korea-flagged ship reportedly hijacked by pirates.
The U.S. destroyer reacted with little hesitation, dispatching a helicopter to investigate the reported hijacking and then sailing at full speed to arrive at the site at midday to lend assistance, the U.S. Navy said in a press release.
The 22 crew members of the North Korean freighter eventually regained control of the ship after a firefight with the pirates, while the Williams demanded by radio that the pirates give up their weapons.
Two pirates were reportedly killed in the deadly gunfight, while five others were captured in the tense standoff.
After the hijacking situation was resolved, three injured crew members of the North Korean ship who may have received relatively serious wounds were brought onboard the U.S. destroyer for medical treatment, and were then sent back to their ship in stable condition, a message sent by the U.S. Navy to Yonhap News Agency said. It said the injuries sustained by the three merchant sailors were not life-threatening.
Besides giving first aid, the U.S. warship did not receive any further requests for assistance from the North Korean vessel, the message said.
Washington tried not to brag, saying piracy was a "scourge" in Somalia's waters and that U.S. vessels were available to intercede when necessary.
"When we get a distress call, we help," Lydia Robertson, commander of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, was quoted as saying by the AP.
South Korean officials agreed, saying the U.S. would have acted the same way had the incident taken place a year ago. They, however, noted the U.S. would not have acted so swiftly or as willingly had the incident happened before Feb. 13, when Pyongyang agreed to shut down and later disable its key nuclear facilities.
"Piracy is a crime that does not choose its victims by their nationality," a ministry official said, asking that he remain unidentified.
"The U.S. and NATO forces have long operated missions in the (Somali) area to intercept pirates, so I don't think the U.S. would have acted any differently had the incident happened a year ago," said the official, whose job mainly deals with U.S. affairs.
Other officials said the incident demonstrates the changed mood between the former enemies as multilateral talks aimed at denuclearizing the communist North maintain an upbeat mood.
Washington and Pyongyang have held two rounds of working-level talks this year under a six-nation accord signed in February, which binds North Korea to shut down and disable its key nuclear facilities and declare all its nuclear programs.
In return, the communist nation will receive 1 million tons of heavy fuel oil or equivalent assistance, as well as other political benefits such as its removal from the U.S. list of terrorism sponsoring states and the normalization of its diplomatic relations with the U.S. and Japan.
North Korea has already shut down all its key nuclear facilities at Yongbyon and promised earlier this month to disable the Yongbyon complex and submit a full list of its nuclear programs by the end of the year.
Christopher Hill, the top U.S. envoy in six-way talks on ending North Korea's nuclear ambition, was expected to hold bilateral talks with his North Korean counterpart Kim Kye-gwan in Beijing later Wednesday to discuss various issues including the normalization of ties between their nations, according to officials here.
"The incident will have a positive impact as a result of the efforts by both the U.S. and North Korea to normalize their diplomatic ties," a ministry official said, asking to remain anonymous.
North Korea has yet to officially acknowledge the U.S. assistance in regaining the freedom of its vessel and treating the ship's wounded North Korean crew members.
(END)
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