US navy vessel remains prized trophy for North Korea, 37 years on (USS Pueblo)

PYONGYANG (AFP) - In North Korea's decades-long struggle with the United States, it is perhaps the Communist nation's favourite trophy.

The USS Pueblo, a 53.8 metre-long (176.5 foot-long) ship the North Koreans seized in 1968 in a move that almost brought the nations to war, remains docked in one of the most prominent positions of the Taedong River in Pyongyang.

Foreigners are brought to the Pueblo on government-controlled tour packages and media visits to recall the time North Korea, as a tourist pamphlet says, brought the "US imperialists ... to their knees".

"Although the government of the US submitted the surrender documents, the Pueblo couldn't return to its country, for it is a permanent trophy of the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)," the pamphlet says.

According to the North Koreans, their patrol boats seized the Pueblo after the vessel had been caught spying in its territorial waters.

The incident occurred as tensions between the two nations were starting to heat up again amid the uneasy armistice that was brokered to end the 1950-53 Korean War.

One crew member was killed in the takeover of the Pueblo and the other 82 brought to Pyongyang for an 11-month saga that severely embarrassed and infuriated the United States.

The US version of events was that the Pueblo was an intelligence gathering vessel in international waters off the coast of North Korea when the North Koreans attacked it.

North Korea was adamant the vessel was an intruding spy ship and refused to release the crew until the US admitted its guilt.

During the standoff, the US built up its military forces around North Korea but the Stalinist nation refused to budge.

The crew members were filmed signing a letter of apology and confessing, although they later said they only did so because of pressure from the North Koreans.

The crew was finally released after almost a year when the US government reluctantly signed a letter admitting the Pueblo was a spy ship and had entered North Korean waters.

Thirty-seven years later, the North Korean government and military continue to bask in their "victory".

"The people of the world unanimously saw ... the might of the US was shattered again by the Korean people," the commentator in a DVD documentary that is shown to visitors in the Pueblo's mess hall says.

The vessel, which the US navy website says remains the property of the United States, has been kept in relatively good condition with the North Koreans striving to present it in all its glory.

Each artefact, from the decoding room to the vessel's plaque, provides enduring ammunition for the North Korean government in its efforts to boost the morale of the Korean People's Army (KPA).

"The veterans who captured the Pueblo and the new soldiers of the KPA say; 'Whoever makes a reckless attack upon our country will never return alive like the Pueblo!'," the tourist brochure says.

Well, I can agree that 'more like' doesn't mean 'same as'.

President Bush is by no means perfect. But I must tell you, in my opinion, compared to Clinton, Carter and LBJ, he is a VAST improvement over them, and there is no comparison to the Senator from my state, Hanoi John, who could have been President if not for the efforts of the Swift Boat Vets.

Compared to all three, Bush exudes class. Regardless of what the MSM and the Dems want Americans to think, Bush is no dummy. Compared to the "cerebral" Al Gore, Bush did much better in college. He may be as mean, petty and vindictive as Carter, but he doesn't let it show. I can't tell you how relieved I am not to have to pick up the paper and have scandal after scandal after scandal each day, as was the case in the Nineties. What Bush lacks in panache, he makes up for in sane moral stability, general straightforwardness and class.

As an example, visit my website at http://homepage.mac.com/rlmorel/iMovieTheater50.html and look at the video of the incident in South America where Bush stuck up for his Secret Service guy. Would Clinton or Carter EVER have done anything even remotely like that? The Clintons taught their kid to call the Secret Service "Trained Pigs". Guys who would give their life for a piece of crap like them.

Well, I just got off on a rant there. Sorry. Back on topic, I do agree that China is going to be a tough nut to crack, make no mistake. I think we are on a collision course.

>Say what you want about the USAF but General McKee from Okinawa sent armed fighter jets toward the >Pueblo under his direction and in defiance of the Navy and the White House with orders to blow all of >the North Koreans out of the water that were near the Pueblo if they got there before the North Koreans >got the Pueblo into the Harbor. General McKee, USAF, was not the closest (the Navy had a Carrier within >minutes of the Pueblo) but was the only member of a high command with balls. He was later reprimanded >for his actions.
>

(This is from memory so you may want to check the facts carefully before repeating it).

There followed one of the greatest moments in aviation history - and without ever a turbine-wheel been spun. The President had spoken with the unit commander and impressed upon him the importance of the mission to destroy the USS Pueblo: "Every secret the United States has is on that ship".

The planning sessions revealed that is was a almost certain suicide to attack the ship where it lay now - but they would still have to go ahead.

At the briefing, the unit commander impressed upon the men the importance of the mission and the fact that most of them would not be returning. The unit commander told that they currently had one less serviceable aircraft than pilots. He said if anyone did not wish to go, that they should raise their hand, and he would not ask any questions and that they should think nothing of it. At the rear of the room a pilot put up his hand and the unit commander said

"That's fine" and continued to give this briefing without pause.

The unit commander was interrupted by the pilot who had put up his hand.

"No Sir. One of the aircraft is two-seat. I will ride in the back"

I don't know where these guys are now but I sure hope we can find them when we need them. With men like that I could conquer the world.

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