Deleted User
05-12-1999, 06:45 PM
Wednesday May 12 5:25 AM ET <br>
<br>
<b><font size=5>US, S.Korea Accused of Provocations</b></font><br>
<br>
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korea accused U.S. and South Korean forces on Wednesday of staging military<br>
provocations inside the tense demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas.<br>
<br>
The North's official Korean Central News Agency said U.S. and South Korean soldiers clandestinely deployed ``combat<br>
equipment'' at a guard post inside the border village of Panmunjom on Monday.<br>
<br>
More armed soldiers and military vehicles were spotted on a hill inside the village and about 10 illuminating flares were fired in<br>
``deliberate and premeditated provocation,'' the KCNA said.<br>
<br>
In a separate border incident Monday, South Korean guards disturbed North Korean soldiers by pointing flashlights at a North<br>
Korean guard post, KCNA said.<br>
<br>
The U.S. military command called the North Korean charges ``an absolutely false report.''<br>
<br>
``It appears to be an attempt on the part of the North Koreans to raise tension,'' said spokeswoman Lee Ferguson.<br>
<br>
The North's communist government often accuses the South and United States of provoking military confrontations along the<br>
border and planning a northward invasion.<br>
<br>
Panmunjom is the sole crossing point between the two Koreas, which share the most heavily militarized border in the world.<br>
The two nations are still technically in a state of war because their 1950-53 war ended without a peace treaty.<br>
<br>
A contingent of U.S. and South Korean soldiers guard the southern half of the village under the U.N. flag. Soldiers inside the<br>
village are banned from carrying weapons heavier than side arms. <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<b><font size=5>US, S.Korea Accused of Provocations</b></font><br>
<br>
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korea accused U.S. and South Korean forces on Wednesday of staging military<br>
provocations inside the tense demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas.<br>
<br>
The North's official Korean Central News Agency said U.S. and South Korean soldiers clandestinely deployed ``combat<br>
equipment'' at a guard post inside the border village of Panmunjom on Monday.<br>
<br>
More armed soldiers and military vehicles were spotted on a hill inside the village and about 10 illuminating flares were fired in<br>
``deliberate and premeditated provocation,'' the KCNA said.<br>
<br>
In a separate border incident Monday, South Korean guards disturbed North Korean soldiers by pointing flashlights at a North<br>
Korean guard post, KCNA said.<br>
<br>
The U.S. military command called the North Korean charges ``an absolutely false report.''<br>
<br>
``It appears to be an attempt on the part of the North Koreans to raise tension,'' said spokeswoman Lee Ferguson.<br>
<br>
The North's communist government often accuses the South and United States of provoking military confrontations along the<br>
border and planning a northward invasion.<br>
<br>
Panmunjom is the sole crossing point between the two Koreas, which share the most heavily militarized border in the world.<br>
The two nations are still technically in a state of war because their 1950-53 war ended without a peace treaty.<br>
<br>
A contingent of U.S. and South Korean soldiers guard the southern half of the village under the U.N. flag. Soldiers inside the<br>
village are banned from carrying weapons heavier than side arms. <br>
<br>
<br>