I remember this vividly. A very tense situation.
Sounds very similiar to the surveilance plane episode a few years back with China.
Wonder what the "real" issue was there.
I remember it too. Thought my "freedom" flight from Viet Nam in late Feb. would be diverted to cold Korea. While processing on Okinawa (Camp Hansen) for the rest of the ride home rumors were rampant that we combat veterans would be assigned to new units and shipped immediately to Korea.
I also remember the incident. I was part of the national intelligence community at the time. The loss of sensitive equipment and documents was a tremendous blow. Even worse was the capture of our intel specialist. As usual, our timid leaders wrung their hands and begged the North Koreans to "pretty-please" give everything back.