N.Korea says 180 US spy flights hurt nuclear talks

Published: Oct 31, 2005
Source: www.alertnet.org



SEOUL, Oct 31 (Reuters) - North Korea said on Monday the United States conducted at least 180 espionage flights in October, adding the missions hurt the chances for a settlement in talks aimed at ending Pyongyang's nuclear programmes.

North Korea, which says it has nuclear weapons, regularly accuses the United States of flying spy planes such as the U-2 to photograph strategic targets from the near the fortified Demilitarised Zone that divides the Korean peninsula.

"These aerial espionage flights clearly prove that the U.S. imperialists are desperately trying to stifle the DPRK militarily behind the scene though they are giving lip-service to the negotiated settlement of the nuclear issue," the North's official KCNA news agency reported.

Flashback: N Korea says more than 170 US spy flights flown in Augustcontinue..