When North Korea followed through on threats to shoot down a US spy plane | NK News
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November 08, 2024
Analysis

When North Korea followed through on threats to shoot down a US spy plane

EC-121 incident led US to consider nuke strikes, showing how Kim Yo Jong’s recent warnings could spiral into conflict

North Korea threatened to shoot down U.S. reconnaissance planes flying off its east coast this week, and while it may seem like empty bluster, a look at history shows that it has taken down American aircraft before — and in the process provoked Washington to even consider nuclear strikes.

On April 15, 1969, a North Korean MiG-21 opened fire on a U.S. Navy EC-121 reconnaissance plane off the east coast of the peninsula, resulting in the deaths of 31 Americans.

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