Seoul: A joint military-police team announced Friday that they are investigating a "civilian" concerning a recent drone incursion alleged by North Korea. North Korea had claimed earlier this month that South Korea violated its sovereignty with drone incursions in September last year and on January 4, demanding that Seoul admit and apologize for the incident.

According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's military has denied these claims, stating that the drones in question were not models operated by the military. The police have not disclosed the suspect's identity or other details of the investigation. "We have summoned one civilian suspect in connection with the case and are undergoing an investigation," the National Police Agency informed reporters.

President Lee Jae Myung has called for a "thorough" investigation, warning that if confirmed, such acts would constitute a "grave crime" threatening peace on the Korean Peninsula. Following the police notice, local broadcaster Channel A featured an interview with a man in his 30s who claimed responsibility for sending the drone to the North.

The interviewee, a graduate student, claimed that the civilian suspect summoned by the joint investigation team was his acquaintance who built the drone. He chose to appear before the media willingly, presenting what he claimed to be aerial footage from the drone and other evidence to support his claim. "I sent the drones to measure the heavy metal pollution and radiation levels at a uranium production facility located in Pyongsan County, North Korea," he said, adding that he had sent drones three times since September and plans to voluntarily appear for police questioning.