South Korea on Monday took delivery of a Global Hawk unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft from the U.S.

The delivery was kept as quiet as possible, apparently to avoid agitating North Korea at a time of rising tensions.

The drone was delivered to an air base in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, according to a military spokesman who explained there would be no further fanfare "considering the special nature of the quietly-moving reconnaissance asset."

South Korea will take delivery of three more in the future, also without the speeches and brass bands that normally herald such events. Defense Ministry spokeswoman Choi Hyun-soo said there is no plan for a deployment ceremony.

