North Korea accused the US of flying more than 160 aerial spy missions over its territory in July, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted a military source as saying.

 

North Korea accused the US of repeatedly using the newly deployed U-2 spy planes in South Korea, which were designed to carry out reconnaissance missions at extremely high altitudes, to look at the North's military facilities.

 

In addition, the US RC-135 strategic reconnaissance planes are alleged to have flown 19 missions in 12 days, and similar espionage missions were conducted more than 90 times by RC-12 and other reconnaissance planes, KCNA said.

 

North Korea said the US had conducted more than 220 aerial espionage missions in June and in excess of 170 in May.

 

Local media said the spy missions were aggravating the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2006)