Sunday, February 1, 2004
N Korea claims US made 190 spy flights in January
Associated Press Seoul, February 1
North Korea claimed the US military conducted at least 190 spy flights against the communist state in January, accusing Washington of mapping out a sudden attack.
North Korea's official news agency KCNA said on Saturday that U-2, RC-135 and other reconnaissance planes of the US military were used for "round-the-clock" operations.
"Such aerial espionage clear shows the US imperialists' black-hearted design to mount a sudden pre-emptive attack on the DPRK anytime as they did to seize Iraq and Afghanistan," KCNA said.
North Korea regularly makes such accusations. The US 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.
Efforts are under way to continue international talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons programme. A first round ended in August with little progress made.
© Hindustan Times Ltd. 2004.