Russian Magazine Releases Photos of ‘78 KAL Forced Landing

by mins0306 on June 6, 2008

in Korean History

On April 20, 1978 a KAL 707 flying from Paris to Seoul strayed into Soviet airspace and made an emergency landing on a frozen lake after being damaged by a Russian missile. 2 died and 14 were injured as a result. The Yonhap now reports that a Russian magazine has released photos of the KAL passenger liner after it landed in Russia.

 

So, a Russian news magazine digging up the past? Well, not exactly. The photos have been put up on a blog of a Russian car magazine called “Autoreview” apparently to advertise that a Land Rover pickup was used to haul equipment at that time. 

Korean Air is reported to be “bewildered” as a result of the photos turning up and is looking into how the photos were released.

{ 1 trackback }

There’s no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you’ll enjoy the rest of your flight. By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane?
June 6, 2008 at 2:46 pm

{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Zonath June 6, 2008 at 8:50 am

apparently to advertise that a Land Rover pickup was used to haul equipment at that time.

Yikes. Was this advertisement Land Rover’s idea, or some schmuck’s in the magazine office? Either way… kinda tasteless.

2 hardyandtiny June 6, 2008 at 9:32 am

that’s great

3 Brian June 6, 2008 at 9:48 am

Kinda like a few years ago there were commercials for Hummer putting the vehicle in an early 80s video game and having bad guys fire pixels at it to show the Hummer’s size and invincibility . . . all while Hummers are getting blown up in the Middle East with regularity.

4 Baek du Boy June 6, 2008 at 10:40 am

Any one got a visual/video of the add itself or a link?

5 Cymrodor June 6, 2008 at 11:14 am
6 Baek du Boy June 6, 2008 at 11:21 am

For those who don’t speak Russian

http://englishrussia.com/?p=1961#more-1961

7 wjk, 검은 머리 외국인 June 6, 2008 at 11:35 am

Hello, Mr. Mins.

was it shot down with vulcans or a missile?

Mucho gracias, Senoir.

8 andy June 6, 2008 at 11:39 am

Oh shut up, wjk.

9 wjk, 검은 머리 외국인 June 6, 2008 at 11:41 am

by the way, I think passenger plane-napping was one of Kim Jong Il’s favorite terror attacks against South Koreans.

bad to say, but why can’t they do it now, and why don’t they?

I think I remember one incident for sure, involving Kim Yun Hee near the 1988 Olympics, but right prior to it, and perhaps another one, but I’m not so sure. They were always DaeHanHanGong flights, because that used to be the only airline, I think, like 3rd world countries have just one nationally owned one.

Speaking of which, Kim Jong Il also likes to stage military incursions when Seoul is hosting international sporting events like Olympics and World Cup.

It is my belief that if USFK leaves, Kim Jong Il will do it more often, and even consider a full out invasion. What’s he got to lose? First strikyeare, and at least he’s guarantteed Seoul in hell-fire.

That’s why these thoughtless Americans advocating for USFK sitting in Japan (becoming part of USFJ), and coming to rescue AFTER is a moot point and stupid and silly one.

Kim Jong Il calls every time for US withdrawal at 6 party meetings. Why are Americans so eager to grant him this particular wish?

10 Ryan June 6, 2008 at 12:08 pm

KAL 007 was intercepted and shot down near Sakhalin in 1983. The flight deviated of its assigned route during a sensitive time.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KAL_007

11 Ryan June 6, 2008 at 12:12 pm

BTW, the flight mentioned in the post shouldn’t be KAL 707. It should be KAL 902.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Air_Flight_902

12 mins0306 June 6, 2008 at 12:27 pm

Actually Ryan I was talking about the type of aircraft involved.

13 Baek du Boy June 6, 2008 at 1:42 pm

He says ‘a’ KAL 707.

#9 I believe you are referring to Kim Hyun hee 김현희…the North Korea spy caught in the middle east with explosives before she was about to board a KAL flight.

14 Alejandro Marivosa June 6, 2008 at 2:22 pm

Come on people…Kim Hyunhee, yes, but she was caught after she had disembarked and after the plane had blown up.

15 seouldout June 6, 2008 at 10:29 pm

Don’t forget Ms. Kim Hyon Hui, whose bomb killed 115, later become a bit of a celebrity in Korea (perverse, ain’t it) after she was released from prison. Wrote a book about it too.

In Korea is pretty + virgin > treacherous?

If you have Korean blood, it seems.

16 mins0306 June 6, 2008 at 11:10 pm

Well, seouldout, a while back there were rumors that the whole incident involving Kim Hyun-hee was a big plot by Chun Doo Hwan to divert attention from domestic problems and boost Roh Tae-woo’s chances during the upcoming presidential election.

According to the rumor, Kim Hyun-hee was not a North Korean agent but someone hired by the National Security Planning Agency to play a NK agent which might explain the pardon and the royal treatment.

But as I said these are all rumors.

17 Baek du boy June 7, 2008 at 6:42 pm

I heard/read she married a South Korean big shot lawyer and lived happily every after….still waiting for the memoirs and movie, but maybe she legally cannot profit from her supposed ‘crimes’

18 snow June 9, 2008 at 5:25 am

“According to the rumor, Kim Hyun-hee was not a North Korean agent but someone hired by the National Security Planning Agency to play a NK agent which might explain the pardon and the royal treatment.”

Would like to know if there is any evidence for this, but as with all conspiracy theories, it’s best to take them with less than a grain of salt until real evidence is uncovered.

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