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US Military Deploys Spy Plane in S. Korea Jung Sung-ki / Korea Times | June 26 2006 An advanced U.S. reconnaissance aircraft has been deployed here as concerns mount over North Korea's suspected missile activities, a U.S. Air Force broadcaster said Monday. The U-2S, nicknamed ``Dragon Lady,'' arrived at Osan Air Base, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul, under the United States Forces Korea (USFK) reconnaissance modernization program, the broadcaster, AFPN, reported on its Web site. ``The Block 20 aircraft is a new, modern cockpit with a computer on board that analyzes and displays a lot more information on three, 6-by-8-inch multifunction displays and two smaller displays,'' Lt. Col. Lars Hoffman, the 5th Reconnaissance Squadron commander, was quoted as saying. But a USFK spokesman denied that the deployment had anything to do with the recent developments of the North's nuclear weapons program or long-range missile threat. ``The USFK made this plan a long time ago. It is unrelated to North Korea's move to test-fire a Taepodong missile,'' he said, asking not to be named. Tension on the Korean Peninsula has risen in recent weeks over suspected moves by North Korea to test-fire its Taepodong-II missile, which is capable of reaching the west coast of the U.S. continent. The United States and Japan have warned of strong countermeasures if North Korea goes ahead with its plan to test-fire the missile. The USFK plans to replace its three Block 10 U-2 planes with as many advanced ones. They are to monitor the movements of North Korean troops and military facilities 60-70 kilometers north of the inter-Korean border at an altitude of up to 20 kilometers. The Block 20 U-2 provides critical intelligence to decision-makers through all phases of conflict, including peacetime indications and warnings, crises, operations other than war and major theater war. The aircraft is capable of collecting multi-sensor photo, electro-optic, infrared and radar imagery, as well as collecting signals intelligence data. It can carry thousands of pounds of reconnaissance sensors to more than 70,000 feet, and remain aloft for more than 10 hours. About 29,000 U.S. troops are being stationed here as a deterrent against communist North Korea. South Korea has no air surveillance system of its own and relies on U.S. reconnaissance aircraft based in Okinawa, Japan. ---------------------------------------------------
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