N.Korea Changes Camouflage of Infiltration Planes

North Korea has changed the camouflage colors for the AN-2 low-altitude infiltration aircraft. The belly is now sky blue, the same color as a drone that crashed on Baeknyeong Island last year, and the upper body a pattern of dark green, pale green and red, according to analysis of a South Korean military intelligence agency.

The North has about 300 of the planes.

"The North's unveiling of the new AN-2 last Wednesday is an apparent threat to infiltrate the South with aircraft carrying special troops," a military officer here said Sunday.

Despite its low speed, the AN-2s can avoid South Korean radar detection by flying through gorges at a low altitude, carrying a dozen special troops each.

"Seen from above, they'll be difficult to identify, and seen from below they could be seen as part of the sky," the officer added. "It seems the North was encouraged by the relatively successful infiltration of sky-blue drones last year."

During winter exercises last year, North Korean military drastically increased frequency of special troops' parachute drills using AN-2s.

As many as 10,000 to 15,000 special troops reportedly took part in the drills.

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