Seoul: South Korea's defense minister has categorically denied North Korea's accusations that South Korean drones infiltrated North Korean territory in September of the previous year and earlier this week. The defense chief asserted that the drones mentioned in the allegations were not associated with the South Korean military.
According to Yonhap News Agency, North Korea accused South Korea of violating its sovereignty through drone incursions, warning that Seoul would face severe consequences for what it described as a provocation. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back responded to these claims, stating that the allegations were "absolutely not true" and emphasizing that the drone images shared by North Korea did not match any models utilized by South Korea's military.
Minister Ahn further questioned the plausibility of such allegations, given the enduring impact of past military tensions. He clarified that key military commands, including the drone operation command, the Army's ground operations command, and the Marine Corps headquarters, had not conducted any drone flights on the dates specified by North Korea. Ahn proposed a joint investigation by both Koreas to address the matter.
North Korea's statement, released through the spokesperson of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army, accused South Korea of conducting drone operations on two separate occasions and labeled Seoul as "the most hostile" enemy. On January 4, North Korea reported intercepting an air target over Ganghwa County, Incheon, and claimed to have downed the drone using electronic warfare techniques near Kaesong, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Additionally, North Korea alleged that a drone originating from South Korea's Paju fell in Jangphung County, Kaesong, on September 27, after being intercepted by electronic means. This drone was reportedly returning from an incursion into Phyongsan County, North Hwanghae Province.
The South Korean defense ministry announced that President Lee Jae Myung has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the situation, with the involvement of relevant agencies to verify the details. The ministry's notice confirmed that no South Korean military drones were operational on the dates claimed by North Korea.
South Korea's military affirmed that it did not detect any drones crossing into North Korea on the alleged dates. A military official did acknowledge challenges in tracking radar signatures of drones flying from South Korea into the North, as surveillance efforts typically focus on monitoring incoming North Korean drones.