A possible fair trade with N. Korea

[No-Bozos]

Last week the U.S. seized a N. Korean cargo ship. N. Korea is obviously demanding we return it.

I suggest a trade: The cargo ship for the return of the U.S.S. Pueblo. This Pueblo was attacked and captured by the N. Koreans in Jan. 1968. The ship had 83 crew members, one of whom was killed in an attack while the ship was attempting to avoid a boarding by the N. Koreans. It is the second oldest commissioned ship U.S. Navy. At present it is being used as a museum and propaganda tool by the N. Koreans.

The Pueblo no longer has any military value, whereas the N. Korean has considerable commercial value. A win-win.

You can read the Pueblo story at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Pueblo_(AGER-2). The N. Koreans treatment of our military personnel is particularly poignant.

[soryang]

1. Another alternative would be to reopen the search for remains

There hasn't been any contact from the North Korean side for months, and the US office for recovery of the remains has basically closed shop for the time being because it isn't getting any cooperation.

I heard some South Korean national security analysts say today, that the US is basically tied up by the legal process on the seizure and bound to follow through, namely they thought the ship could not be returned.

Never say never I guess.

[No-Bozos]

2. Also Good

However, it would not surprise me if the N. Koreans have a stockpile of American remains. They know where the most severe battles occurred and where to look, and it is not like they don't have enough slave labor to do the digging.

This is serious business. Recovery of our soldiers is very important to Americans, and the N. Koreans are well aware of this. They will continue to use this as leverage for as long as they deem necessary. My wife's uncle fought in that war and the impact on him has not been lost in her family. He came home. Those who didn't deserve to rest in peace on American soil, not on a shelve in some NK warehouse.

Maybe I'm wrong about all of the above, and I sincerely apologize if I am. But the N. Korean government are hardly people of good character.

But to my point, returning the Pueblo would be a propaganda bonanza for them and put to rest a thorn that has been in America's side for a long time. Of course Pvt. Bone Spurs would take all the credit but in this case I could live with that.