A former U.S. ambassador to South Korea says the United States had included North Korea in its list of terrorism-supporting countries for blasting a Korean Air flight over Myanmar in 1987.

In his memoir, entitled "China Hands: Nine Decades of Adventure, Espionage and Diplomacy in Asia," James Lilley also accused North Korea of conspiring to arouse fear in the South of a potential terrorist attack in a shadowy bid to co-host the 1988 Olympic Games.

Lilley said the United States had helped South Korea come up with security measures during the Seoul Olympic games.

The former ambassador also said he had dissuaded former President Chun Doo-hwan from proclaiming martial law to suppress democratic rallies in June 1987.