North Korea: ‘Shocking Accident’ Could Bring Down US Planes
Threatening rhetoric out of the secretive nation of North Korea is nothing new, but a recent warning clearly sought to escalate tensions with the United States even further.
A source within the North Korean Ministry of National Defense claimed that American aircraft had been “illegally” flying in protected airspace. The agency insisted that U.S. Air Force jets were spotted “several times” in North Korean skies, suggesting that such behavior could bring about dire consequences.
“Provocative military actions by the United States were bringing the Korean peninsula closer to a nuclear conflict,” the spokesperson said.
The source went on to assert that there is “no guarantee that such a shocking accident as the downing of the U.S. Air Force strategic reconnaissance plane will not happen.”
The Korean Central News Agency issued a rebuke of reported plans to send military assets to the region, asserting: “The present situation clearly proves that the situation of the Korean Peninsula is coming closer to the threshold of nuclear conflict due to the U.S. provocative military action.”
Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean ruler Kim Jong Un, provided more details about the alleged action of U.S. aircraft, asserting that planes had flown over the nation’s exclusive economic zone.
One plane allegedly entered the region early Monday morning before being pursued by North Korean planes. Hours later, Kim said another U.S. aircraft was spotted above North Korea’s eastern sea boundary and her country issued a “strong warning” as a result.
Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, called on North Korea “to engage in serious and sustained diplomacy” instead of “escalatory actions.”
He indicated that U.S. diplomats had expressed a willingness to discuss the situation with North Korean leaders, who rejected the offer.
The Ministry of National Defense spokesperson insisted that North Korea had been displaying “patience and self-control” prior to the latest provocations by the U.S. military.
Of course, South Korea had a different opinion on the situation, asserting that U.S. military planes frequently patrol the region and any recent reconnaissance flights did not violate its northern neighbor’s airspace.
That defense elicited a rebuke from Kim, who reiterated her accusations against the U.S. military and claimed that the South Korean chiefs of staff sounded like a “spokesperson” for the United States.
