North Korea has recently opened up to the world since destroying their nuclear sites in late 2017. Meanwhile, the previous espionage attempts on North Korea has come to light as the USS Pueblo crew members, after 50 years, have come out to voice their experiences.

The USS Pueblo was a ship that served as Naval Intelligence vessel in 1968 that spied on North Korea but was seized rather quickly as two lightly armed vessels from North Korea surrounded them before attacking when Pueblo did not surrender.

North Korea seized the vessel and charged 83 members of the USS Pueblo of espionage within the 12-mile nautical limit. They transported all of them to a detention center in Wonsan for 11 months. Further explaining the torture that the crew had to sustain, HISTORY.com has provided information that the months of torture consisted of learning North Korea’s political propaganda and being beaten when compound rules were violated as many crew members tried to flee the camp.

Under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, the families have filed for the damage the incident had on them and their family members that had to go through torture. It was not just any lawsuit but it addressed the torment that the crew had to go through as they were held captive for 11 months while the US negotiated with North Korea. According to CNN, Stu Russell, one of the crew members of USS Pueblo, recalled many of them having to be “completely out of it, almost completely devoid of emotion after suppressing our feelings and thoughts for months.”

It is expected that North Korea will not answer to this lawsuit but the family member involved in this incident will forever be unrepairable to the damage they have taken during their hostage.