When North Korean sailors and the US Navy teamed up against Somali pirates

History · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 2007, a North Korean cargo ship was hijacked by Somali pirates near Mogadishu. In a rare moment of international cooperation, the crew fought back against their captors while the US Navy provided support. The incident resulted in a surprising public expression of gratitude from North Korea toward the United States.

The MV Dai Hong Dan, carrying a shipment of sugar from India, was hijacked on 29 October 2007 shortly after departing Mogadishu. Seven Somali pirates, who had previously assisted the crew in unloading cargo, gained access to the vessel by posing as security personnel. Once aboard, they forced the 22-member crew into the engine and steering rooms at gunpoint, demanding a ransom of US$15,000. Before being fully confined, the crew managed to transmit a distress signal that reached the International Maritime Bureau.

The USS James E. Williams, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer patrolling nearby, responded to the signal the following morning. While the US Navy reported that their arrival emboldened the crew to revolt, North Korea’s state-run media claimed the sailors had resisted from the beginning. During the ensuing confrontation, the crew disabled the ship's engine, seized the pirates' weapons, and regained control of the bridge. The US Navy reported two pirates killed and five captured, while North Korean accounts stated one pirate died. US medical personnel treated wounded sailors, though the two nations disagreed on the exact number of injured crew members.

The aftermath was marked by an unusual diplomatic gesture. North Korea issued a statement thanking the US for its assistance, framing the event as a symbol of cooperation in the global struggle against terrorism. Analysts and defectors have since suggested that the crew’s bold resistance may have been driven by the presence of onboard security agents or the fear of severe punishment upon returning home. Regardless of the motivation, the incident remains a notable anomaly in the often-strained history between the two countries, occurring during a year when 19 commercial ships were hijacked off the Somali coast.

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