U.N. Command expresses
regrets over N. Korea flyover
By Jeremy Kirk
Seoul bureau chief
YONGSAN GARRISON — U.N. Command officials told North Korea on Saturday they “regretted” an incident last week during which two U.S. planes strayed across the communist country’s border, according to a U.S. Forces Korea news release.
The two sides met at the shared truce village of Panmunjom for about 30 minutes. Representatives of the North Korean Peoples Army did not respond to a UNC offer of a joint investigation, the release stated.
The UNC also asked North Korea to investigate recent border crossings by North Korean soldiers. The command recommended the two sides establish military hot lines to help reduce tension.
Shortly after the incident Thursday, North Korea demanded an apology, saying the flyover was a threat to the recent favorable relations between North and South Korea.
USFK said the pilots flew over North Korea by mistake. USFK has not released any more details, including information on the type of planes, whether they were armed and how long they were over North Korea.
North Korea said its military took a “self-defensive measure” when planes flew near Kaesong, a city just north of Panmunjom. The planes then left toward Kanghwa Island, in South Korean territory, the North’s Korean Central News Agency wrote on its Web site.
Such a flyover would be a violation of the 1953 armistice agreement that ended the Korean War. It’s not known whether North Korea fired on the planes.
Since Wednesday, the U.S. and South Korea have been involved in Foal Eagle, a large annual military exercise. Activities have included practice runs by U.S. fighters on training ranges around South Korea.
The exercise, which runs through Friday, tests the readiness of U.S. and South Korean forces in case of a North Korean attack.
The incident came two days after Secretary of State Madeleine Albright concluded meetings with North Korea leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang. Albright is the highest-level U.S. official to visit the country.
North Korea’s willingness to address U.Sconcerns over its missile program during the meetings has left American officials hopeful that a deal can be struck in the coming weeks — with President Clinton himself presiding at a signing ceremony in Pyongyang.
The surprise progress took place over two days of talks this past week during a remarkable visit to the North Korean capital by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
The two sides will hold expert level talks this week to ensure that there is no misunderstanding about where they stand following Albright’s visit.
Concurrently, North Korea will hold fence-mending talks with Japan, another long-term foe.
Under the proposed bargain, North Korea would curb its missile program to meet U.S. security concerns in exchange for promises of U.S. help for its badly battered economy.
The United States has no formal diplomatic relations with North Korea.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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