US plans to provide reconnaissance aid to S.Korea http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?view=CN&storyID=2006-09-06T213550Z_01_N06227863_RTRIDST_0_ARMS-KOREA-SOUTH.XML&rpc=66&type=qcna
Wed Sep 6, 2006
WASHINGTON, Sept 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. Defense Department on Wednesday notified Congress it plans to provide technical and logistics support for South Korea's reconnaissance and intelligence operations as it faces a standoff with North Korea about its nuclear weapons program. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress it may sell up to $200 million worth of equipment, services, and support for so-called RC-800 Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft and Reconnaissance Ground Stations. "Korea needs the sustainment support to continue its tactical reconnaissance and signal intelligence (SIGINT) operations," the agency said in a statement.
The main contractors include Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and L-3 Communications (LLL.N: Quote, Profile, Research). The United States has been pressing North Korea to return to six-party talks on its nuclear weapons ambitions. The talks, which involve involve China, Russia, Japan, the United States, South Korea and North Korea, have been stalled since November.
The U.S. Congress has 30 days to block the proposed sale, but such actions are rare.
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