North Korea on Saturday accused South Korea of flying a drone into its airspace on January 4 and infringing on its sovereignty.
– The North Korean military tracked the drone “moving northwards” over South Korea’s Ganghwa county, one of the closest territories to the North.
– The drone was shot down inside the North Korean airspace near the city of Kaesong after flying for 8 kilometers.
– Pyongyang alleged that the drone was equipped with surveillance cameras and had reportedly filmed “major” North Korean facilities.
– South Korea dismissed the North’s claims, saying that it had no record of the flight.
– Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said in a statement that the drone Pyongyang was referring to was “not a model operated by our military.”
– South Korean President Lee Jae Myung — who vowed reengagement with the North after taking office in June — has ordered a thorough investigation, Seoul said.
– According to North Korea’s military, another South Korean drone was shot down over Kaesong last September.
– South Korea is already conducting a probe into alleged drone flights over the North last year.
– In October 2024, North Korea had claimed that a South Korean drone reached Pyongyang.
– Prosecutors in South Korea have indicted ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol — who was in power then — over charges that he allegedly used the drone incursions as a ruse for his failed attempt to impose martial law.
– Yoon is now in detention and denies the accusations.