North Korea repelled a US spy plane, Kim’s sister says, after threat to shoot them down

Kim Jong-un’s powerful sister Kim Yo-jong accused the US of ‘a grave encroachment upon the sovereignty and security’ of North Korea
She warned early on Tuesday that ‘a shocking incident would occur in the long run’ if spy planes ‘habitually intrude’ into its airspace

North Korea

Bloomberg

Published: 11:33am, 11 Jul 2023

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North Korea said it scrambled warplanes to ward off a US spy plane in its exclusive economic zone, after raising the possibility of “shocking” consequences if the incursions persist.

Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong-un, said early on Tuesday in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency that the US aircraft “retreated” when the North Korean air force sent up a sortie of planes.

“The intrusion into the DPRK’s 200-nautical mile economic water zone by the reconnaissance asset of the hostile country … is clearly a grave encroachment upon the sovereignty and security of the DPRK,” Kim said, referring to North Korea by its formal name.

“A shocking incident would occur in the long run in the 20-40 section in which the US spy planes habitually intrude into the sky above the economic water zone” of North Korea, she added.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and his powerful sister Kim Yo-jong. Photo: SCMP Composite via KCNA/KNS/AP

Her comments came hours after Pyongyang claimed US drones and spy planes flew for eight straight days along its coasts, with aircraft repeatedly violating its airspace. North Korea’s Defence Ministry accused the US of flying a strategic reconnaissance plane into its “inviolable airspace” several times and warned that approaching aircraft might be shot down.

While the Defence Ministry statement seemed to imply an intrusion into North Korean territorial airspace, Kim Yo-jong accused the US of conducting aerial surveillance over the North’s exclusive economic zone, the area within 200 nautical miles of its territory where it controls rights to natural resources.

South Korea’s military disputed those accusations, saying the aerial reconnaissance aircraft did not violate North Korean airspace. It said Pyongyang had wilfully stirred tensions by launching threats over “normal flight activities” over international waters. It urged the North to immediately cease such actions. A spokesman for Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff added that South Korean and US personnel are maintaining a readiness posture.

Kim Yo-jong also criticised South Korea for defending the US activities, using an abbreviation of the country’s official name. “As regards the provocation by the US forces, the military of the ‘ROK’ again impudently took the lead in denying the encroachment on the DPRK’s sovereignty, while shamelessly asserting that it was a ‘normal flight.’”

North Korea threatens to shoot down US planes as it condemns nuclear moves

The latest flare-up in tensions on the peninsula came as Nato leaders prepare to gather in Lithuania for their annual summit. The leaders of Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand will also attend in a bid to bolster awareness of security threats in the Asia-Pacific.

Speaking at a forum in Seoul on Monday, John Weidner, chief of staff at US Forces Korea, reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to enhancing the “regular visibility” of powerful military assets in South Korea, referring to the “upcoming visit” of a US nuclear ballistic missile submarine, Yonhap reported.

“The US will enhance regular visibility of strategic assets to the Korean peninsula as evidenced by the upcoming visit of a US nuclear ballistic missile submarine to the ROK,” Weidner said, referring to South Korea by its formal name.

In her statement early on, Kim Yo-jong reasserted that intensifying US reconnaissance activities were encroaching on the North’s sovereignty and that US forces would “experience a very critical flight” if they continue with their illegal intrusions.

North Korea vows ‘revenge’ against US in rallies marking war anniversary

Earlier this year, tensions on the Korean peninsula rose sharply as the pace of North Korean weapon tests and US-South Korea joint military exercises have intensified. North Korea has test-fired nearly 100 missiles since the start of 2022 as Kim Jong-un expands a nuclear arsenal he apparently sees as his strongest guarantee of survival.

The United States stations about 28,500 troops in South Korea as deterrence against potential aggression by North Korea.

Additional reporting by Associated Press