Special To World Tribune
EAST-ASIA-INTEL.COM
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
worldtribune
South Korea has again registered concerns with the United States over Google's global satellite photo service which provide images of key military facilities in South Korea to whatever intelligence agency worldwide which might want to exploit the resource.
Google Earth also features aerial photographs of key U.S bases, including Yongsan Garrison in Seoul and Camp Casey, north of Seoul, government officials in Seoul said. South Korea raised concerns with the U.S. government about the satellite photos in September 2005.
The pictures now reveal Patriot missiles, fighters and hangars at a South Korean air base in Suwon and at a U.S. air base in Osan, both south of Seoul. Pictures of the Yongsan area show not only military facilities but also adjacent buildings, such as a school, golf course, clubhouse and shops.
Due to security concerns exacerbated by Seoul's proximity to the North Korean border at the Demilitarized Zone, regulations in the capital city ban buildings that afford line-of-sight views of the presidential Blue House compound.
Last month, images of major anti-aircraft artillery in the Seoul metropolitan area were also posted.
In September 2005, high-resolution pictures of the South Korean presidential house, the Defense Ministry and air and naval bases were featured on the site. They were deleted following a protest by the South Korean government.
"As Google's satellite photos are beyond our control, we are in discussion with U.S. authorities," a defense official said. Google Earth's satellite mapping service is accessible to anyone who logs onto the Web site and downloads the program.
South Korea's intelligence agency said it has recently requested U.S. authorities to take measures to curb the posting of sensitive facilities on Google. South Korea has faced a continuous military threat from communist North Korea since the Korean War in 1950
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