SEOUL, June 7 (UPI) -- South Korea's military said Thursday it was monitoring increased activity by North Korea's air force.
A spokesman for the South Korean joint chiefs of staff said there had been a surge in the number of North Korean planes flying missions near the border with South Korean air space in recent weeks.
The sorties haven't crossed the Tactical Action Line, which is just north of South Korean air space, but one flight by a North Korean SU-25 fighter came close enough to the Incheon area that Seoul scrambled four interceptors as a precaution.
Analysts have looking for any hidden motives behind the increased air activity to the North. Voice of America said the consensus seems to be that the North's air commanders have been showing off as a sign of loyalty to their new leader, Kim Jong Un.
Analysts also noted that while North Korea has a large air force, its attack aircraft are older than the planes fielded by South Korea and U.S. Air Force.
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