The US-led United Nations Command (UNC) on Saturday expressed regret at a breach of North Korean air space by two US fighter jets this week, the UNC said.
Pyongyang strongly protested against what it deemed a "grave military provocation," and demanded an apology over the incident, which came shortly after a historic visit to the communist nation by US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
The UNC's expression of regret came in colonel-level talks with North Korean military officials at Panmunjom, a venue for military talks since 1953, when an armistice was signed there at the end of the Korean War.
"The UNC informed the KPA (North Korean People's Army) that they regretted the incident and that an investigation is ongoing," the UNC said in a news release.
The UNC confirmed two US jets on Thursday strayed across the frontier, which remains heavily fortified despite this year's reconciliation between the two Koreas.
The UNC suggested the KPA take part in a joint investigation of the case, but the North did not respond to this offer, the UNC said.
During the meeting, the UNC also requested that the KPA investigate recent incidents in which North Korean soldiers allegedly crossed the Military Demarcation Line diving the two Koreas.
It also recommended that both sides establish hotlines in order to assist communications and reduce tensions in the event of future incidents. The North also failed to respond to this offer.
The UNC earlier said that following protocol for such incidents, North Korea was notified of the error through Panmunjom in the de-militarized zone.
Washington played down the incident on Friday, describing it as "an error."
"Two US aircraft accidentally entered North Korean airspace. The pilots were notified of their error by US and Republic of Korea air force personnel," said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher.
"Our military people have explained this was accidental, it was an error," Boucher said.
He said that the pilots were conducting a joint South Korean-US military exercise when the two US planes briefly strayed into North Korean airspace.
The North's government condemned the military exercise in which the aircraft were taking part, saying the US and South Korea were "spoiling the good atmosphere" of relations.
The 10-day "Foal Eagle" maneuvers, an annual run-through of the US-South Korean response to any military action from the North, involves 25,000 US troops and a greater number of South Korean personnel.
The exercise was scaled down and US military officials have refused to allow media coverage of it to avoid antagonising North Korea further.
Nevertheless on Thursday a Pyongyang foreign ministry spokesman accused the United States of "still pursuing the policy of 'strength' in its strategy" and South Korea of "following with increased zeal the US strategy" against the North.
He reminded the United States that a joint communiqué issued during the visit of a North Korean envoy to Washington promised "that neither side will have hostile intent toward the other side," the North's state media reported – SEOUL (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
