N.Korea says ready to join U.S. in fighting terrorism

MOSCOW, November 9 (RIA Novosti) - North Korea announced it was willing to cooperate with its traditional foe the United States in fighting terrorism, and thanked the U.S. for its recent help in rescuing North Korean sailors.

On October 30, the crew of a U.S. destroyer ship provided medical assistance to North Korean sailors injured when regaining control of their ship from Somali pirates near Mogadishu, the Somali capital.

"We feel grateful to the United States for its assistance given to our crewmen," KCNA, North Korea's official news agency said in a statement released late on Thursday.

The agency described the incident as "a symbol of cooperation in the struggle against terrorism" between the countries.

The United States has officially been in a state of war with North Korea since 1953, when the Korean War ended in an armistice agreement.

Washington put North Korea on its list of countries supporting terrorism in 1988, but recently promised to remove it.