According to military reports, suspected North Korean drones illegally entered South Korean airspace. South Korea’s military spotted several unmanned aerial vehicles in the border region on Monday morning (local time) and initially responded with loudspeaker announcements and warning shots, the military staff in Seoul said. The Air Force later used planes and helicopters to track and shoot down the aircraft.
The superior command assumed that these were small drones from the neighboring country that flew over the military demarcation line. “This is a clear act of provocation by the North that violates our airspace,” said Lee Seung-o, a member of South Korea’s general staff. One of the drones they flew near the South Korean capital Seoul. Warning shots were initially fired. Lee left it open whether the drones were actually hit and shot down.
South Korea’s Yonhap news agency later reported, citing the military staff, that the military had fired about 100 rounds. One of the drones had returned to North Korea. The other four lost sight of the military.
According to Lee, in response to the use of drones, South Korean reconnaissance aircraft flew north to take drone-like aerial photos. North Korean drones were small, about two meters long. He gave no further details about the aircraft’s equipment.
First incident since 2017
It is the first time since 2017 that a border incident of this type has become known. At that time, the South Korean military had secured a suspicious spy drone near the heavily fortified border with North Korea after it crashed. The aircraft was reportedly scheduled for a return flight to North Korea.
The latest incident came at a time of growing uncertainty in the region. North Korea has already tested nuclear-capable missiles several times this year, thus violating UN resolutions. Because of its nuclear weapons program, Pyongyang is subject to tough international sanctions. South Korea and the United States resumed their large-scale joint military exercises this year, which are primarily aimed at deterring North Korea.
According to the Seoul Ministry of Transport, departures at Incheon and Gimpo airports were temporarily suspended at the request of the military. The interruption to the midday start lasted about an hour, a ministry official told Portal news agency. He did not provide further information.