Remember the USS Pueblo? - the U.S. Navy ship captured by North Korea more than 40 years ago

Spy gadgets, top secret documents and bullet holes: Aboard the U.S. Navy ship captured more than 40 years ago by North Korea
DAILY MAIL
Published: April 17, 2012

Its captivity is an enduring reminder of tensions between the United States and North Korea throughout the Cold War - the bullet holes riddling its rooms a frightening memory of the lives lost.

Now, more than 40 years after its capture by North Korean forces in 1968, photographs from aboard the USS Pueblo give a haunting insight into the lives of the men who struggled to maintain its control.

Walls of gauges, switches and typing and printing devices pay tribute to its few short months as a spying ship for the U.S., before it was seized and moored on the Taedong River in Pyongyang.

Captured: USS Pueblo was seized by the North Koreans during the Cold War and is moored in Pyongyang. Credit: John Pavella/Flickr

Insight: Photos taken inside this year - 44 years after its capture - show the spying vessel's surveillance hub. Credit: Bryanh/Flickr

Remembered: The ship, which contains soldiers' clothes found on board, is now used as a museum. Credit: Rapidtravelchai/Flickr

The vessel - the only ship of the U.S. Navy currently held captive - is now open to visitors as a museum in North Korea, its unpainted walls and unswept floors capturing a fearful moment in time.

Images taken aboard show stark rooms designed to focus on their mission; communication boards stretching into every corner and lookout spots throughout the ship.

The ship was seized on January 23, 1968; the U.S. Navy claimed it was in international waters, while North Korea said it was sailing within their territory.

The Japanese visitor, who took pictures for Rocket News 24, said his guide told him as he toured the vessel: 'Even today, America continues to beg the ship to be returned.'


Spies: The ship was collecting data on Soviet naval patterns when it was chased by North Korean boats. 

 
Terror: When the ship tried to flee, it came under fire, with the scores of bullet holes still visible. Credit: Mark Fahey/Flickr and bryanh/Flickr

Remaining evidence: As they came under attack, the crew failed to destroy all sensitive material. Credit: bryanh/Flickr

The U.S. maintained it was an observation ship, while the North Koreans claimed it was a warship - a claim that could be supported by the scores of bullet holes in the ship, Rocket News reported.

According to the American account, Pueblo was on orders to intercept and conduct surveillance of Soviet ships when a North Korean sub chaser crept upon the vessel.

When it demanded the ship stand down or expect fire, the American commander attempted to move away but could not out-outmaneuver the sub chaser and growing numbers of torpedo boats.

History: After the men were snatched from the ship, they were taken to a POW camp where they were tortured. Credit: gadgetdan/Flickr

Despite expecting an imminent attack, the crew were unable to access the ship's ammunition below deck - and most were untrained in how to use the machine guns, which were wrapped in tarps.

With the North Koreans trying to board the ship, one of the sub chasers fired a cannon at the ship, killing a member of the crew. A U.S. soldier, Duane Hodges, was also killed.

Other vessels barraged the boat with bullets as the Americans tried to destroy the sensitive material - yet they only managed to ruin 'a small percentage' of documents, according to witnesses.

In demand: A tour guide told a Japanese visitor that 'American continues to beg for its return' Credit: Mark Fahey/Flickr

When the North Koreans boarded the ship, the 82 crew members were tied, blindfolded and beaten They were taken to POW camps, where some crew members were tortured before their release.

The Japanese visitor told the news site he did not trust everything the North Korean guide told him about the ship and its takeover - but admitted that might be his Japanese prejudice.
The ship has been in North Korean hands ever since and has been visited by more than 250,000 visitors since it was docked along the Taedong River.