N.Korean drone hovers near border

By Wang Zhaokun

A North Korean unmanned plane used for surveillance was detected near the sensitive sea border with South Korea, an official said Tuesday.

A Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman quoted the South Korean military official as saying, "The North flew a drone, possibly for surveillance."

It was the first time that a North Korean drone had been spotted over the border.

"This drone hovered over the North's waters, keeping a very low altitude, some 20 kilometers north of Yeonpyeong islands," the official added.

Pyongyang recently also showed video footage of its new battle tank, known as the M2002, on its Chungang TV channel, according to the Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency

The new indigenous tank, called "Pokpung" (Tiger Storm), is believed to be based on the Soviet T-62 but equipped with a laser range finder, anti-aircraft machine guns and a modern fire control system.

Despite sabre rattling from Pyongyang, President Lee Myung-bak defended his proposal of a unification tax Tuesday, saying South Korea should change its national policy toward reunification with the North.

"What I meant is that we need to get prepared for reunification, not that the government should start imposing the tax immediately," a spokeswoman quoted Lee as saying.

"Division should not be left as it is. ... The direction of our national policy should also be changed toward managing reunification, not division," the president added.

Liu Jiangyong, vice dean of the Institute of International Studies at Tsinghua University, said the proposal of a unification tax is unlikely to be met with much of a response from Pyongyang, considering the strained situation on the Ko-rean Peninsula.

"Lee made the proposal because he is under pressure to improve relations with North Korea during his remaining official term, which runs until early 2013, as his tough policies toward the North did not produce the expected results," Liu said. "Currently, Seoul's major objective is to pressure the UN for new sanctions against Pyongyang."

Meanwhile, a group of South Koreans were allowed to enter the North for the first time since Seoul suspended civilian exchanges with Pyongyang.

The group of people, including a doctor, crossed the border into the North Korean city Kaesong to deliver anti-malaria aid.

"They are to return home today after delivering aid kits," a South Korean official said.

Agencies contributed to this story