The new commander of the Russian air force, General Anatoliy Kornukov, has revealed that he was the officer who gave the order to shoot down a South Korean airliner in 1983.
Speaking on Russian NTV television, the general said he felt he had made a correct decision.
He said he remained convinced the Boeing 747, which had strayed off course and was flying over sensitive Soviet military installations, had been part of a hostile mission.
The plane was shotdown over Sakhalin island in the far east of the former Soviet Union.
There were no survivors among the more than two-hundred people on board.
From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
Russian air force chief admits downing KAL007: Excerpt from interview
(23 Jan 98 | World)
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