The Intelligence Gathering Mission
The USS Pueblo left Yokosuka, Japan on January 5, 1968, stopping at Sasebo before heading toward North Korean waters on January 11.
The Navy sent the ship to collect electronic signals and gather intelligence on North Korean military activities.
The Navy disguised Pueblo as an environmental research vessel, calling it AGER-2. This cover story explained why the ship operated near the Korean coast.
The vessel carried advanced equipment to intercept and decode North Korean communications.
Meant for Reconaissance Not War
Despite its secret mission, the Pueblo had almost no protection. The ship carried only two .50-caliber machine guns on deck.
These weapons stayed under canvas covers that froze solid in winter. Crew members couldn’t use the guns when attacked.
The Pueblo moved slowly through water with poor steering. Built as a cargo ship, it couldn’t outrun military vessels.
Navy training for the crew fell short. Only ten sailors practiced firing the guns, each shooting just five times during training.
North Korean Vessels Surround the Ship
A North Korean submarine chaser approached the Pueblo on January 23, 1968. The North Korean ship ordered the American vessel to stop or face attack.
Three torpedo boats quickly joined the submarine chaser. Two MiG fighter jets also appeared overhead, surrounding the American ship.
The Pueblo tried to escape by speeding up and changing direction. This failed because the American ship moved much slower than the North Korean military boats.
The North Koreans demanded the Pueblo follow them to shore. Commander Lloyd Bucher refused at first, saying they sailed in international waters.
The Attack and Capture
North Korean ships fired on the Pueblo with cannons and machine guns. The attack tore through the ship and wounded several crew members.
Commander Bucher ordered his men to destroy secret equipment and documents. The crew shredded papers and smashed electronic devices as shots hit the vessel.
They burned documents and used hammers on equipment to keep secrets from North Korean hands.
North Korean soldiers boarded the Pueblo at 2:55 pm. Armed troops stormed the ship, forcing the American sailors to surrender after a three-hour standoff.
Duane Hodges Gets the Silver Star
Fireman Duane Hodges, a 21-year-old from Creswell, Oregon, died during the attack.
North Korean gunfire hit him while he helped destroy secret materials on deck. Hodges joined the Navy after high school and worked in the ship’s engine department.
His shipmates remembered his bravery during the attack. The United States gave Hodges the Silver Star medal for his courage.
North Korea kept his body during the entire 11-month captivity before returning it with the released crew in December 1968.
An Intelligence Loss for the United States
The Pueblo carried ten encryption machines and thousands of secret documents that North Korea seized.
This compromised many American intelligence operations in East Asia. The National Security Agency called this loss worse than any breach ever before.
North Korean forces captured codebooks, encryption devices, and technical manuals intact. North Korean officials studied the equipment before sharing findings with allied communist nations.
This allowed them to decode past American messages and block future operations.
The Crew’s Brutal Captivity
After capture, North Korean soldiers blindfolded the American sailors and tied their hands. Guards beat crew members with rifle butts during the trip to Pyongyang.
The men suffered systematic torture to force confessions.
Guards deprived them of sleep, exposed them to extreme cold, and delivered brutal beatings that caused lasting injuries.
The crew lived in cold rooms with little food or medical care. Prison officials forced them to study propaganda materials daily.
Anyone who resisted faced severe punishment.
Acts of Defiance in Captivity
Despite harsh treatment, the Pueblo crew found ways to resist.
In propaganda photos, sailors extended their middle fingers, telling North Koreans it meant “Hawaiian good luck.”
Commander Bucher hid insults in forced confessions. He said he wanted to “paean” the Korean military, pronouncing it like “pee on” – a secret act of defiance.
One sailor wrote “THIS IS A LIE” in Morse code by dotting his fingernails in a published photo. When guards discovered these tricks, they punished the entire crew with a week of severe beatings.
Failed Military Response
President Johnson sent military forces to the region after the Pueblo’s capture. The U.S. moved 350 combat aircraft to bases in South Korea.
The aircraft carrier USS Enterprise and 25 support ships sailed to the Sea of Japan. This naval force showed American military power while diplomats worked to free the crew.
Military leaders decided against rescue attempts or attacks on North Korea. They worried such actions would endanger the captured sailors.
The Vietnam War’s Tet Offensive, which began days after the Pueblo’s capture, further limited America’s options.
The Diplomatic Solution
American and North Korean officials met at Panmunjom in the border zone between North and South Korea. These talks continued for months with little progress.
Major General Gilbert Woodward led negotiations for the United States.
North Korea demanded America sign a document admitting wrongdoing, apologizing for spying, and promising it wouldn’t happen again.
In November 1968, diplomats found a solution. The U.S. would sign the apology paper but first declare the signature only served to free the crew.
This compromise let both sides claim victory.
Where is the USS Pueblo Today?
The USS Pueblo, originally built in Kewaunee, Wisconsin in 1944, but remains in Pyongyang, North Korea at the Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum along the Taedong River.
The ship moved to its current location in late 2012. Foreign visitors can only see the vessel through authorized North Korean tour groups.
The standard museum visit lasts about 90 minutes. Inside the ship, visitors view the original surveillance equipment, bullet holes from the attack, and North Korean interpretations of the 1968 incident.
Photography is allowed in designated areas. All visits require North Korean guides who present the government’s perspective on the capture.
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