Air Scare: Report Says South Korean Military Fires at Civilian Jetliner by Mistake
- Posted on June 18, 2011 at 7:31am by
Scott Baker
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SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Marines fired rifles at a South Korean civilian jetliner as it was descending to land after mistaking it for a North Korean military aircraft, a news report said Saturday.
The incident took place at dawn Friday, Yonhap news agency reported, citing a military source it did not identify. The Asiana Airlines jet carrying about 119 people was undamaged and no one was hurt.
The incident highlights how persistent tensions near the heavily armed inter-Korean border pose the possibility for dangerous miscalculation. The Korean peninsula has remained in a technical state of conflict since the Korean War ended in a truce in 1953. A peace treaty has never been signed.
South Korea’s Defense Ministry, civilian aviation officials and Asiana could not immediately be reached for comment on the Yonhap report.
Two marine guards stationed on Gyodong island near the border fired rifle rounds at the flight as it approached Incheon International Airport west of Seoul, the report said. The jet was flying out of range of the rifles and avoided damage, it said.
News of the incident comes as South Korea on Friday refused to send back a group of North Koreans who crossed into southern waters by boat last weekend, saying all nine have expressed the desire to defect.
North Korea has demanded the immediate repatriation of all nine people who landed on a South Korean-held island last Saturday aboard two small boats. Pyongyang warned Thursday that failure to send them back would aggravate ties between the two Koreas.
North Korea threatened earlier this month to retaliate for the South Korean military‘s use of photos of leader Kim Jong Il’s family for shooting practice.
Seoul also blames Pyongyang for two deadly attacks that killed 50 South Koreans last year. U.S.-made missiles capable of striking Pyongyang were deployed to South Korean sites near the Demilitarized Zone earlier this year, South Korean media reports said. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff declined to confirm the reports.
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Pokerjoe
Posted on June 19, 2011 at 9:22amWere they hauling any cargo? Light bulbs, lighters, toys…… you know those things are worth alot north of the DMZ? People are not.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:16pmWhere does N K get it’s money to purchases weapons? I see no exports, no manufacturing, . They must be just printing cash, much like our imperious leader. Rumor has it that K J ILL, is the only man ever to get a hole in one , on every hole for a full round of 18 holes. Barry seems to be practicing to emulate KJ, but even this liar in chief can’t spin that score.
Report Post »Wyatt's Torch
Posted on June 19, 2011 at 10:09amI just saw on Modern Marvels US Treasury episode that North Korea has been printing US $100 counterfeit bill “super notes” which are almost impossible to tell apart from the real thing. Same type of printing press, paper, and markings as the real deal. You don’t need industry if you can just print cash :)
Report Post »crapgame
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 11:49amThe tale of two Koreas is a tangled one.North Korea is a comunist dictatorship run by a loose canon. the north is generally thought to be controled by China for the most part. north Korea is still considered to unpredictible at any given point.
Report Post »South Korea is a global manufacturing power house and is a world player. there is great animosity between the two Koreas and it becomes greater every day, as thegap between the two increases. The end result is an increase in live fire skirmishes and other incidents such as the shots fierd at the jet . These will become more frequent as the north struggles to remain viable to its own people and the world in general.
UlyssesP
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 10:59amHey there SoKo, easy on that trigger! At least aim at NoKo.
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 10:27amAnyone who knows anything about rifles would know that it would be very difficult or nearly impossible to shoot down a jet with small arms. If they were shooting 5.56 or anything less than an anti-aircraft battery their rounds would fall far short of any aircraft unless it were directly in front of them.
Report Post »nomercy63
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 9:11amTime to destroy that evil nation and stop playing around, the mass graves that we will find will be so horrific and we let this go on for so long!
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 9:38amOne day a mistake will be made and many lives will be lost.
Report Post »Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 9:47amSouth Korea is our ally, North Korea is the communist country for those that may get confused.
Report Post »fastfacts
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 11:13amI would be on high alert also. North Korea is getting worse, with shipments of weapons, talks with China, and growing hostilities among neighbors. They have been picked on ever since the Korean War but most recently the attacks on their island. Plus just yesterday they were testing their defense system and N. Korea was throwing threats at the South. http://tiny.cc/fpprj
Report Post »JRook
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 11:32amWe should probably train the S. Koreans on the weapons we are supplying them.
Report Post »Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 12:25pmJRook – We have joint operations with South Korea quite often, you’d know that if you had more than half a brain.
Report Post »avenger
Posted on June 18, 2011 at 5:10pmwhatever…
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