Seoul: North Korea claimed Saturday that it brought down drones it said South Korea sent into its airspace in September last year and again on Jan. 4. South Korea's Ministry of National Defense said the drones shown in photos released by the North do not match any models used by its military, adding that it has no intention of provoking or escalating tensions with North Korea.
According to Yonhap News Agency, President Lee Jae Myung stated that if the drones were indeed civilian, sending them into the North would constitute a serious crime that threatens peace on the Korean Peninsula and South Korea's national security. He ordered a swift and thorough investigation into the matter. Pyongyang escalated its offensive on Sunday, with Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, warning that the South would face unbearable consequences if it provoked the North.
Cheong Wa Dae reiterated that the government has no intention of provoking or irritating North Korea, promising a joint military-police probe and prompt disclosure of the investigation results. The South Korean military's immediate emphasis on non-provocation has been viewed as undesirable, especially without addressing Pyongyang's threats.
The editorial suggests that President Lee's remarks appear inappropriate as they seemingly lend weight to the North's claims. Unverified North Korean allegations have led to ordinary Koreans being treated as persons of interest, which could exacerbate domestic divisions if investigations target civilians or specific ideological groups.
In December 2022, Pyongyang covertly dispatched drones over Seoul, with one entering the no-fly zone around the presidential office. North Korea has reportedly carried out drone provocations at least 10 times since 2014 but has never acknowledged responsibility for the incursions. Following these incidents, South Korea significantly strengthened its capabilities to monitor and counter North Korean drone incursions.
Seoul should enforce preventive measures against drone activities near the inter-Korean border and press Pyongyang to acknowledge and address its past provocations. South Korea is urged to take necessary steps based on factual verification and fair investigation of the North's claims to manage tensions on the Korean Peninsula effectively.