South Korean authorities on Monday opened an investigation into whether civilians were responsible for drones that North Korea says crossed into its airspace, a case that has raised new security concerns on the Korean peninsula.
The inquiry comes after Pyongyang accused Seoul of carrying out provocations by sending unmanned aircraft across the border, an allegation South Korea’s military has firmly denied.
The Defence Ministry said the probe will focus on determining whether private individuals or groups may have operated the drones without government approval.
President Lee Jae Myung has ordered a swift investigation, warning that unauthorized drone flights would amount to a grave criminal offense.
“If civilians were involved, this would be a serious crime that threatens our national security and peace on the Korean peninsula,” Lee said over the weekend, according to a statement cited by Reuters.
South Korean officials emphasized that the government had no intention of provoking the North and said the military did not operate the drone model referenced by Pyongyang or fly any drones on the date in question.
North Korea’s military said on Saturday that it had shot down drones it accused the South of sending across the border. State media released what it described as debris from the aircraft along with aerial photographs allegedly taken during the incursion.
South Korea rejected the accusation, reiterating that its armed forces were not involved and calling the claims unsubstantiated.
A Defence Ministry spokesperson said Seoul is open to a joint investigation with North Korea, citing comments by Defence Minister Ahn Gyu back, though no formal proposal has been made.
North Korea has not responded to repeated attempts by Lee’s administration to reopen dialogue, after leader Kim Jong Un declared the two Koreas hostile states late last year.
Tensions between the neighbors remain high, with periodic flare ups involving military drills, missile tests, and border incidents.
Read Also: North Korea Missile Launch Raises Tension Ahead Of China Visit
Meanwhile, domestic scrutiny over North Korea related security issues has intensified. Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared in court on Monday to face charges linked to allegations he sought to provoke North Korea in 2024 as a pretext for declaring martial law later that year. Yoon is also standing trial on a separate insurrection charge tied to that episode.
