WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Obama announced today that a deal had been struck with North Korea to trade the South Korean capital of Seoul to secure the safe return of the USS Pueblo, a U.S. Navy spy ship held captive since 1968.
Standing next to the ship's christener, Mrs. Dorothy Duvall of Palm Beach, Florida, the president told reporters at the Rose Garden ceremony he decided to act when he learned of the ship's "rapidly deteriorating condition."
"Could we someday regret handing over the capital city of an important ally to its mortal enemy? Absolutely. Might this encourage more mischief by North Korea? Maybe. Was it worth it? You betcha," the president said.
