Seoul (AsiaNews/Agencies) – This morning a second round of talks between US led Un representatives and top level officials from the North Korean military are taking place. The meeting follows on the heels of yesterdays declaration by the Pyongyang regime that it is “forced to admit it cannot guarantee the security of South Koran civilian flights” that cross its territory.
Every day an average thirty International flights, from or to Seoul, enter North Korean air space; the North Korean concession is part of a pact signed between Seoul and Pyongyang in 1997, under the auspices of the International Organisation of Civil Aviation.
South Korea has described the threat as “inhuman” and demanded it be withdrawn “immediately”. The danger regards the South Korean national airline flights; the security of the company are not guaranteed. The South Korean unification ministry spokesman notes; "It is the first time for Pyongyang to turn toward South Korean flights." Concerned by the threat two South Korean airlines have modified their flight paths, avoiding North Korean airspace.
International analysts judge this latest threat an attempt to the draw attention of the United States and International community. The main issue being economic aid and funding for the North’s communist government, that invests millions in arms but allows its people to languish in hunger. ”I do not think that North Koreans will actually shoot down a plane - says Andrei Lankov, a North Korea specialist – They hope to get attention. They are afraid that the U.S. will start ignoring them, so they will be unable to extract aid and concessions they hope to get”.