The U.S.S. Pueblo is an American naval ship that was captured by the North Koreans in 1968. This capture was a major international event, especially within the context of the Cold War and epic struggle between Communist and Capitalist forces. During that time, much of the West - particularly the U.S.A. - and the Soviet Empire/Communist world were engaged in a Cold War for global domination. The capture of the American ship by Communist North Korea's navy was shocking to the West but a proud and celebrated moment for the Communist East. The capture of the Pueblo is commonly referred to as the Pueblo Incident, or alternatively, the Pueblo Crisis.
The Pueblo Incident occurred in January 1968. The North Koreans claimed that the American ship had illegally entered North Korean waters for espionage purposes; the Americans claimed that the ship was miles outside the North Korean territorial waters for research purposes. North Korean torpedo boats, subchaser, and figher jets confronted the Pueblo. The Pueblo attempted to esacpe the North Korean onslaught. The American ship was attacked and one American killed. The U.S.S. Pueblo was outnumbered and not ready for battle (their weaponry was stored deep in the recesses of the ship), and thus capitulated to the North Koreans. Today, the North Koreans have drawn thick red circles around the huge holes made by their bullets and bombs that hit the ship during the attack.
The American naval officers - over 80 of them - were sent to two POW camps. At times they were allegedly beaten, tortured, and starved. This treatment allegedly worsened after the Americans gave North Korean soliders 'the finger' in staged propaganda pictures. At first, the North Koreans were not familiar with this North American insult, but later learned of it after the publication of the photos. The Americans were also threatened with execution. The North Koreans demanded apologies from them, as well as their 'true' reasons and intentions for being in DPRK's territory. The North Koreans wanted a 'confession' about American spying on DPRK. The North Korean government also demanded that Washington officially and publicly apologize for the Incident. If these conditions were met, the men would eventually be released.
President Lyndon Johnson's administration reluctantly apologized to North Korea for the Incident, 11 months after it transpired. Washington wrote an official admission of spying on DPRK, and a written assurance that America would not spy on DPRK in the future. The captives also officially apologized for their actions. Having met the outlined conditions, North Korea decided to release the crew members. In December, the crew members were taken to the DMZ and made to cross the infamous 'Bridge of No Return' to South Korea. Immediately upon their arrival in South Korea, the U.S. retracted its apology, admission, and assurance. Concurrently, the North Koreans blanked out the paragraph above the signature which read: "and this hereby receipts for 82 crewmen and one dead body".
Today, the U.S.S. Pueblo remains a commissioned ship of the U.S. navy. The ship was never repatriated to the U.S. The ship remains a sore spot between already poor and tense relations between the two enemy countries. Kim Jong Il has ordered that the ship be used for propaganda purposes to promote anti-Americanism and demonstrate North Korean military strength. Washington claims that the return of the still-commissioned American navy ship is a priority for the Americans. The U.S.S. Pueblo is a major tourist attraction in Pyongyang. The American ship is also a source of pride to the North Koreans. It represents their military superiority over the U.S. and also symbolizes their revolutionary spirit and success over Imperialist forces. The ship is therefore a national symbol of independence and sovereignty.
We boarded the U.S.S. Pueblo on a particularly cold North Korean afternoon. The sky was very dark, and the Taedong River was somewhat restless. Boarding the naval ship was like stepping back in time. The ship is exactly how it was when it was captured. The insides - the mess hall, the bunks, the lockers, the clunky computers, the signs - are exactly how they were like in the 1960s. I felt as though I were in a time-warp. I was creeped out; the ship felt as though it were haunted. I wouldnt want to be on it by myself. So I skipped out of the majority of the tour and chatted to one of our guides - Ong-Nim - and Simon (one of Koryo Tour's operators) on the decks of the ship. I braved the icy winds and dark skies, rather than stay long in an old haunted military ship.
Interestinly, Ong-Nim was talking about her worries for her next tour group in a few weeks. The upcoming group was a small number of Americans coming in for their 2 night allowance for the Mass Games season (Americans can only enter DPRK for 2 nights during Mass Games times: April and August-October). Simon and I told her not to worry. Despite any misgivings about the American government, the American people are good people, friendly, fun, and warm who do not desire war. I dont think Ong-Nim was convinced.
There are a few North Korean navy personnel and officers on the ship. Like everything else we did whilst in DPRK, we had a specially guided tour. Our guide was a young navy woman, in full naval uniform, and bright red lipstick.
We had to watch a 15 minute propaganda video on the Pueblo Incident - from the North Korean viewpoint - with its kitchsy music, colourful language denigrating the "brazen-faced American Imperialists", and old footage of negotiations of that time. We were taken on a tour of all areas of the ship, including the secret communications room full of old computers, encryption machines, and radio equipment, all of which is partially disassembled from North Korean technical inspections.
It is rumoured that the Soviet Union wanted North Korea to take the ship in order to get their hands on some American military technology.
It was an interesting tour and a historic place to visit. But I was happy to disembark from the ship; like so much else in DPRK, it creeped me out. To see a 1960s American naval ship docked along the pleasant banks of the Taedong River is also something very strange. If the ship is ever repatriated to the U.S., I'll be one of the rare few to have toured it whilst still in the hands of the North Koreans.
The Pueblo Incident occurred in January 1968. The North Koreans claimed that the American ship had illegally entered North Korean waters for espionage purposes; the Americans claimed that the ship was miles outside the North Korean territorial waters for research purposes. North Korean torpedo boats, subchaser, and figher jets confronted the Pueblo. The Pueblo attempted to esacpe the North Korean onslaught. The American ship was attacked and one American killed. The U.S.S. Pueblo was outnumbered and not ready for battle (their weaponry was stored deep in the recesses of the ship), and thus capitulated to the North Koreans. Today, the North Koreans have drawn thick red circles around the huge holes made by their bullets and bombs that hit the ship during the attack.
The American naval officers - over 80 of them - were sent to two POW camps. At times they were allegedly beaten, tortured, and starved. This treatment allegedly worsened after the Americans gave North Korean soliders 'the finger' in staged propaganda pictures. At first, the North Koreans were not familiar with this North American insult, but later learned of it after the publication of the photos. The Americans were also threatened with execution. The North Koreans demanded apologies from them, as well as their 'true' reasons and intentions for being in DPRK's territory. The North Koreans wanted a 'confession' about American spying on DPRK. The North Korean government also demanded that Washington officially and publicly apologize for the Incident. If these conditions were met, the men would eventually be released.
President Lyndon Johnson's administration reluctantly apologized to North Korea for the Incident, 11 months after it transpired. Washington wrote an official admission of spying on DPRK, and a written assurance that America would not spy on DPRK in the future. The captives also officially apologized for their actions. Having met the outlined conditions, North Korea decided to release the crew members. In December, the crew members were taken to the DMZ and made to cross the infamous 'Bridge of No Return' to South Korea. Immediately upon their arrival in South Korea, the U.S. retracted its apology, admission, and assurance. Concurrently, the North Koreans blanked out the paragraph above the signature which read: "and this hereby receipts for 82 crewmen and one dead body".
Today, the U.S.S. Pueblo remains a commissioned ship of the U.S. navy. The ship was never repatriated to the U.S. The ship remains a sore spot between already poor and tense relations between the two enemy countries. Kim Jong Il has ordered that the ship be used for propaganda purposes to promote anti-Americanism and demonstrate North Korean military strength. Washington claims that the return of the still-commissioned American navy ship is a priority for the Americans. The U.S.S. Pueblo is a major tourist attraction in Pyongyang. The American ship is also a source of pride to the North Koreans. It represents their military superiority over the U.S. and also symbolizes their revolutionary spirit and success over Imperialist forces. The ship is therefore a national symbol of independence and sovereignty.
We boarded the U.S.S. Pueblo on a particularly cold North Korean afternoon. The sky was very dark, and the Taedong River was somewhat restless. Boarding the naval ship was like stepping back in time. The ship is exactly how it was when it was captured. The insides - the mess hall, the bunks, the lockers, the clunky computers, the signs - are exactly how they were like in the 1960s. I felt as though I were in a time-warp. I was creeped out; the ship felt as though it were haunted. I wouldnt want to be on it by myself. So I skipped out of the majority of the tour and chatted to one of our guides - Ong-Nim - and Simon (one of Koryo Tour's operators) on the decks of the ship. I braved the icy winds and dark skies, rather than stay long in an old haunted military ship.
Interestinly, Ong-Nim was talking about her worries for her next tour group in a few weeks. The upcoming group was a small number of Americans coming in for their 2 night allowance for the Mass Games season (Americans can only enter DPRK for 2 nights during Mass Games times: April and August-October). Simon and I told her not to worry. Despite any misgivings about the American government, the American people are good people, friendly, fun, and warm who do not desire war. I dont think Ong-Nim was convinced.
There are a few North Korean navy personnel and officers on the ship. Like everything else we did whilst in DPRK, we had a specially guided tour. Our guide was a young navy woman, in full naval uniform, and bright red lipstick.
We had to watch a 15 minute propaganda video on the Pueblo Incident - from the North Korean viewpoint - with its kitchsy music, colourful language denigrating the "brazen-faced American Imperialists", and old footage of negotiations of that time. We were taken on a tour of all areas of the ship, including the secret communications room full of old computers, encryption machines, and radio equipment, all of which is partially disassembled from North Korean technical inspections.
It is rumoured that the Soviet Union wanted North Korea to take the ship in order to get their hands on some American military technology.
It was an interesting tour and a historic place to visit. But I was happy to disembark from the ship; like so much else in DPRK, it creeped me out. To see a 1960s American naval ship docked along the pleasant banks of the Taedong River is also something very strange. If the ship is ever repatriated to the U.S., I'll be one of the rare few to have toured it whilst still in the hands of the North Koreans.
3 comments:
I am heading to DPRK this year and this is highest on my list. I really enjoyed this and thanks for the photos. I am one that enjoys the hard political tours. China 20 years ago had some tough ones along with the Soviet Union. Thanks.
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