N. Korea says it will shoot down U.S. spy jets flying over rocket launch site

(ATTN: RECASTS lead; UPDATES to clarify reconnaissance activity usually done outside
territorial airspace)
By Kim Hyun
SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) -- North Korea warned Wednesday it will shoot down any
U.S. spy jets entering its airspace, blasting U.S. aerial espionage over a
northeastern base where it plans to launch a rocket.
The North regularly publishes its count of aerial spy flights by South Korea and
the United States, but the latest report reveals North Korea is on high alert
against foreign reconnaissance activity as the announced dates for the launch
draw near.
The Korean Central Broadcasting Station, the North's state-run radio, said the
U.S. and South Korea conducted at least 190 aerial espionage missions over its
territory, including flights over Musudan-ri, the launch site in North Hamgyong
Province on the east coast.
"Should the U.S. imperialist racketeers dare to perpetrate aerial espionage,
interfering with our preparations for a satellite launch for peaceful purposes,
our revolutionary forces will shoot them down without spare," said the radio
station.
North Korea has said it will send a communications satellite, Kwangmyongsong-2,
into space between April 4 and 8 as part of its space development program.
Neighboring countries have urged Pyongyang to stop the launch, suspecting it
could be a cover for testing its long-range missile technology.
Planes spying on another country usually fly outside the country's airspace or
higher than 12 nautical miles above ground. If the spy jets happen to come into
territorial air by accident or mistake, any country is entitled to shoot them
down as a self-defense measure, a source in Seoul said.
U.S. and South Korean spy jets are believed to be operating above North Korea's
territorial air, and with Wednesday's statement, Pyongyang is showing a natural
reaction, the source said.
"The warning that it will 'shoot them down without spare' may sound different,"
said the source well-versed on North Korea, requesting anonymity. "But it's a
natural response for any country to bring down planes intruding in its aerial
territory."
On Tuesday, North Korea's official news wire, the Korean Central News Agency,
said an RC-135 U.S. spy jet photographed strategic targets at the Musudan-ri
launch site on March 13, 17 and 22.
"This is a wanton infringement upon the sovereignty of the DPRK (North Korea) and
another dangerous military provocation," the report said.
hkim@yna.co.kr
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