North Korea warns South Korea over alleged drone incursions

A drone that North Korea claims is a South Korean unmanned aircraft that crashed in Jangpung County, Kaesong/ Yonhap
SEOUL, January 10 (AJP) - North Korea on Saturday accused South Korea of sending drones into its airspace last year and earlier this month and warned that Seoul would “pay the price” for what it called repeated violations of its sovereignty.

In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency, a spokesperson for the North’s military general staff said a South Korean drone was detected on Sunday flying northward over the border area near Ganghwa Island before being shot down and forced to crash near Kaesong.

The spokesperson also claimed that another drone launched from Paju in Gyeonggi Province on Sept. 27 last year crossed into North Korean airspace over Hwanghae Province and was brought down through electronic warfare.

North Korea said the downed drones carried surveillance equipment and video footage of areas inside the country.

South Korea’s defense ministry rejected the claims, saying its military did not operate drones on the dates cited by Pyongyang.

“Our military did not conduct any drone operations on the days North Korea claims,” the ministry said  on Saturday, adding that the drones shown by North Korea were not models operated by South Korea’s armed forces.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek said the allegations were “completely untrue” and suggested that the two Koreas could conduct a joint investigation if necessary.

The presidential office said it convened a National Security Council working-level meeting to assess the situation, adding that President Lee Jae-myung had ordered a thorough investigation into the matter.

North Korea said drone activities by South Korea near the border had continued even after a change of government in Seoul, calling the South its “most hostile enemy” and warning that further actions would not be tolerated.
Candice Kim 기자 candicekim1121@ajupress.com