A Bold Seizure in 1968
On January 23, 1968, North Korea captured the USS Pueblo, a lightly armed U.S. Navy intelligence vessel, patrolling international waters near the Korean Peninsula. The ship and its 83-member crew, caught by surprise, had minimal defenses. One sailor was killed in the attack, and the remaining crew was taken prisoner.
Rising Tensions Before the Capture
The incident occurred amidst escalating tensions. Days earlier, a North Korean commando team attempted to assassinate South Korean President Park Chung-hee but failed. The USS Pueblo’s capture seemed designed to demonstrate North Korea’s defiance.
Negotiations and Military Maneuvers
The United States considered military retaliation, deploying bombers and aircraft carriers to the region. However, the risk of war and the ongoing Vietnam conflict led to restraint. For 11 months, the U.S. negotiated for the crew’s release while balancing pressures from South Korea and its allies.
Release and Legacy of the Ship
On December 23, 1968, the crew was freed after a U.S. negotiator signed an apology, later verbally disavowed. The USS Pueblo remains in North Korean custody, a stark reminder of the incident that brought the world to the brink of war.
In January 1968, North Korea shocked the world by capturing the USS Pueblo, a U.S. Navy intelligence ship, and detaining its 83 crew members for 11 months. The audacious act pushed global tensions to the brink of war, with nuclear conflict a real possibility.🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/gqJXWzo3vl
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