N. Korea threatens Japanese jets

Source: Agencies  |   2009-6-28  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

NORTH Korea threatened yesterday to shoot down any Japanese planes that enter its airspace, accusing Tokyo of spying near one of its missile launch sites.

North Korea has designated a no-sail zone off its eastern coast from June 25 to July 10 for military drills, raising concerns that it might test-fire short- or mid-range missiles in the coming days, in violation of a United Nations resolution.

North Korea's air force said Japan's E-767 surveillance aircraft conducted aerial espionage near the Musudan-ri missile site on Wednesday and Thursday.

The country's official Korean Central News Agency said the air force "will not tolerate even a bit the aerial espionage by the warmongers of the Japanese aggression forces but mercilessly shoot down any plane intruding into the territorial air of North Korea even 0.001mm."

An official from Japan's defense ministry said the country's planes regularly gather information on North Korea but declined to comment on the types of planes used or the locations monitored.

The threat against alleged Japanese aerial espionage is rare, though North Korea has regularly complained of US spy missions in its airspace.

Japan is sensitive to North Korea's missile programs, as its islands lie within range.