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| Korea |
| N. Korea Accuses U.S. of 200 Spy Flights |
| 2003-11-01 |
| From WaPo SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- North Korea accused the U.S. military on Saturday of conducting at least 200 spy flights against the communist state in October. Ooooh. Really? That’s a lot - wonder why we’d be interested in checking you out more than 6 times per day... North Korea said such maneuvers by the U.S. military questioned Washington’s public stance that it seeks a peaceful solution to a standoff over the North’s suspected development of nuclear weapons. Pyongyang’s official news agency KCNA said U-2, RC-135 and other reconnaissance planes of the U.S. military flew "day and night" near the border between the two Koreas to "spy on strategic targets of the (North)." Just, uh, trying to make sure the SKors didn’t steal ’em. The number of such flights increased from 160 in September, it said. "This fact clearly indicates what they really seek in talking about ’peaceful solution’ to the nuclear issue and ’written assurances of nonaggression,’" KCNA said. Okay, I’ll bite. What? Earlier this month, President Bush proposed that the United States and North Korea’s four neighbors provide written security guarantees for the North if it dismantles its nuclear weapons program. North Korea has said it would consider the offer. Uh, you begged for this for months. Bush says we’ll talk about it. You now say you’ll think it over. Phugg off, Poofyboy. In talks with China this week, North Korea agreed "in principle" to return to the six-nation talks aimed at ending the nuclear crisis. The talks have stalled since August. Your masters whistled. You heeled. The U.S. military does not comment on North Korean claims on spy flights, although it acknowledges monitoring North Korean military activity. The United States keeps 37,000 American troops in South Korea - a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War. Yup. Just keeping tabs on the local looney. Yawn. |
| Posted by:.com |
| #4 ...I think we need to do some translating here. The Norks classify ANY US flight over the peninsula as a spy flight, but they only really exercise themselves over two kinds - the big intel gathering planes (EC-135, EP-3, etc) and flights that get too close for their comfort to the Z. When I was at Kunsan in 84-85, we routinely flew 2000 sorties a month, and more during exercise season, which didn't end all that long ago. Anytime they could even see it from the Z, they started screaming and filed formal compaints with the folks at Panmunjom. BTW, if you were pilot or observer on a specific flight that got complained about, you got a 'Yankee Air Pirate' patch. They were highly prized souveniers of a tour at the Kun. Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2003-11-1 9:21:21 PM |
| #3 I doubt the Air Force stationed in South Korea flies 200 sorties a month, but maybe. I do know we keep an eye on the place north of the DMZ, since it's kinda like a 60 gallon tub of nitroglycerine sitting in the middle of a Los Angeles freeway. I'm sure Japan, Russia, and China also take a peek at Kimmieland fairly frequently, for the same reason. None of us want to trigger the explosion, but the situation in the north is so unstable a sneeze could do it. Watching Kimmieland is kinda like trying to work through a hostage situation with a krazed killer: you do everyting possible NOT to upset the guy, while trying to rescue his hostages at the same time. Having a 600-pound gorilla walk over a crate of eggs without breaking any may be easier. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-11-1 6:16:41 PM |
| #2 The satellites go by evey 90 minutes or so...is that what they're talking about? |
| Posted by: Mr. J 2003-11-1 2:45:37 PM |
| #1 200 spy flights in ONE MONTH? That is OUTRAGEOUS!! I would much rather see 200 ground attack flights! Teminus: Pyong Yang. |
| Posted by: badanov 2003-11-1 11:24:20 AM |