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

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK via Korea News Service (KNS)

   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.