THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, December 19, 1994 TAG: 9412190070
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: FROM WIRE REPORTS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
A pilot of the U.S. helicopter that strayed into North Korean airspace was killed in the downing of his aircraft, the White House said Sunday. The second pilot was alive and reportedly uninjured.
``This tragic loss of life was unnecessary,'' President Clinton said in a statement issued by the White House. With details of incident still scarce, Clinton demanded the release of the surviving aviator.
North Korea said an ``enemy'' aircraft was shot down Saturday, after the OH-58C helicopter wandered across the heavily fortified border. The United States said the craft was unarmed and on a routine training mission. The incident threatened U.S.-North Korea ties, less than two months after a breakthrough over Pyongyang's nuclear program.
The White House statement said Chief Warrant Officer David Hilemon of Clarksville, Tenn., ``was killed in the downing of the helicopter.'' The second pilot, Chief Warrant Officer Bobby Hall of Brooksville, Fla., ``is alive and reportedly uninjured,'' the statement said.
White House officials said the use of the word ``downing'' did not imply the helicopter had been shot down, as the North Koreans claimed. But the ``working assumption'' within the administration is that the aircraft had been shot down, as North Korea claimed, one official said.
Officials and outside analysts said that even if the helicopter had been shot down, this wouldn't necessarily mean a serious turn for the worse in the relationship. North Korea's defense apparatus may simply have been following a standard operating procedure.
The United States was informed by the North Koreans through Rep. Bill Richardson, D-N.M., who went to Pyongyang on an unrelated mission involving U.S.-North Korean nuclear accord.
Through Richardson, Clinton demanded ``prompt access'' to Hall.
``Our primary concern now is the welfare of Chief Warrant Officer Hall and his return, along with the body of Chief Warrant Officer Hilemon,'' Clinton said.
In the statement and in private, Clinton and his aides carefully chose their words to make sure not to antagonize the North Koreans while the second aviator remained in custody.
U.S. military delegates met with North Korean officials Sunday at the border village of Panmunjom, in their first official talks since the unarmed helicopter crossed into North Korea.
The United States said the helicopter was on a training mission. North Korean officials accused the United States and South Korea of staging hostile air exercises. ILLUSTRATION: Color photos
Chief Warrant Officer David Hilemon of Clarksville, Tenn., ``was
killed in the downing of the helicopter.''
Chief Warrant Officer Bobby Hall of Brooksville, Fla., ``is alive
and reportedly uninjured.''
by CNB