Clinton Dispatches Envoy to North Korea to Negotiate Release of US Helicopter Crewman

Strategic Insights -

President Clinton has taken a high-level approach to negotiate the release of US chief warrant officer Bobby Hall, a helicopter crewman who has been held in North Korea for nine days. The State Department has announced that Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Hubbard will be sent to Pyongyang to facilitate the prompt repatriation of Hall. The move comes after days of unsuccessful efforts to free Hall, with the State Department receiving a request from North Korea to send a representative to discuss the repatriation.

Key Takeaways:

  • President Clinton has dispatched a high-level envoy, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Hubbard, to Pyongyang to negotiate the release of US chief warrant officer Bobby Hall.
  • The US helicopter crewman, Bobby Hall, has been held in North Korea for nine days after his helicopter went down in North Korean territory on December 17.
  • The US has received a request from North Korea to send a representative to discuss the repatriation of Hall, which will be facilitated by Hubbard's visit.
  • Hubbard will arrive in North Korea on December 28, crossing the demilitarized zone on the same day.
  • While there are no guarantees of Hall's release, both sides see this visit as a way to facilitate a resolution of the problem.
  • Hall was a passenger on a U.S. Army OH-58 observation helicopter that went down after straying into North Korean airspace during a routine training flight.
  • Co-pilot David Hilemon was killed in the incident, and his remains were returned five days later, while Hall has remained a captive in North Korea.

Statistics:

  • 9: The number of days Bobby Hall has been held in North Korea.
  • 17: The date on which the US helicopter went down in North Korean territory (December 17).
  • 5: The number of days that passed before the United States returned the remains of co-pilot David Hilemon.
  • 1: The number of US helicopter crewmen still being held in North Korea, Bobby Hall.

Sources:

  • "State Department Spokesman Mike McCurry statement"
  • "White House official (unidentified)"