US Forces to Deploy Drones to Spy on North Korea

Source: almanar.com.lb, 3-6-2009

US forces in South Korea will deploy unmanned spy planes to keep closer watch over nuclear-armed North Korea amid mounting tensions on the peninsula, the deputy head of US forces in the South, Lieutenant General Jeffrey Remington, has said.

He added the US Air Force in the South would retire decades-old U-2 spy planes and replace them with Global Hawk unmanned reconnaissance planes. Remington's comments in an interview with Dong-A Ilbo newspaper were confirmed by his public affairs officer.

The general also said South Korea should buy the Global Hawks to improve the surveillance capability of the joint force. North Korea on May 25 staged its second nuclear test. It followed up by renouncing the armistice in force for more than 50 years on the peninsula, firing six short-range missiles and threatening the South with possible attack.