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The U.S. Navy said Tuesday it provided medical assistance and other support to the North Korean crew of a vessel hijacked by pirates off the East African nation of Somalia.

The USS James E. Williams, an Arleigh-Burke-class destroyer, dispatched a helicopter to investigate after receiving a call from the International Maritime Bureau about the North Korea-flagged ship, Dai Hong Dan, early Tuesday morning, the Navy said in a press release.

The U.S. destroyer arrived in the vicinity of the North Korean ship at midday and contacted the pirates, ordering them to give up their weapons, it said.

"At that point, the Korean crew confronted the pirates and regained control of the ship, and then began communicating with the James E. Williams, requesting medical assistance," the Navy said.

Three seriously injured crew members have been transferred to the U.S. vessel for treatment, it said. Initial reports said two pirates were killed.

Although a part of U.S. anti-piracy operations, the intervention may also indicate improvement in Pyongyang-Washington relations spurred by progress in six-way talks. The two countries, which do not have diplomatic ties, are currently engaged in the negotiations aimed at eventually dismantling North Korea's atomic weapons and programs.

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell, however, declined to comment on the possible ramifications of the incident.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 (Yonhap)