 As U.S. Navy ships patrolling the waters moved to respond, the 22 North Korean seamen fought the eight Somali pirates in hand-to-hand combat.With aid from the crew of the USS "James E. Williams" and a helicopter, the ship was freed, and permission was given to the U.S. crew to treat the wounded crew and pirates.This resulted in favorable comments from U.S. envoy in Beijing, Christopher R. Hill, as well as an exceedingly rare pro-U.S. statement in the North Korean press.