The Korea Herald

지나쌤

US flies more surveillance planes over Korean Peninsula: aviation tracker

By Yonhap

Published : Dec. 6, 2019 - 15:59

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The United States flew two more surveillance aircraft around the Korean Peninsula, an aviation tracker said Friday, on apparent missions to monitor North Korea amid concerns over Pyongyang's additional missile tests.

The US Air Force's RC-135S Cobra Ball aircraft was spotted flying over the East Sea at 31,000 feet, Aircraft Spots said on its Twitter account, without providing further details.

As one of America's major intelligence-gathering assets, the aircraft collects data related to missile launches, such as the movement of transporter erector launcher vehicles and electronic signals. 


(Yonhap) (Yonhap)

Hours later, the aviation tracker said the US Air Force also flew RC-135V at 31,000 feet over the peninsula.

The spy planes' operations were the latest in a series of flights conducted by the US around the peninsula, including those involving the navy's P-3C maritime surveillance plane and the RC-135U Combat Sent aircraft.

The operations came amid little progress in nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang, with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday even hinting at the possibility of using military force against North Korea, if necessary.

North Korea immediately reacted to Trump's remarks, with Pak Jong-chon, chief of the General Staff of the North's Korean People's Army, issuing a statement, saying that Pyongyang will take "prompt corresponding action at any level" if the US uses force against the North.

North Korea test-fired a super-large multiple rocket launcher last week in the 13th round of major weapons tests this year. (Yonhap)