Seoul, Jan. 5 (BNA): A North Korean drone briefly entered a 3.7-kilometre no-fly zone around President Yun Suk Yul’s office in Seoul last month, a military official confirmed late Thursday, contrary to defense authorities. Announcing the absence of such an incident.
The drone was among five that North Korea sent across the Military Demarcation Line separating the two Koreas on December 26. The South Korean military failed to shoot them down, which raised questions about the air defense situation.
“He flew briefly to the northern edge of the area, but did not approach major security facilities,” the official told Yonhap News Agency, on condition of anonymity, referring to the security area named “P-73”.
In a background briefing to reporters later in the day, another military official also said that an object, presumed to be an enemy drone, appeared to have flown through part of the “north end” of the P-73 area.
“But I would like to point out that there is no problem regarding the security of the presidential office in Yongsan,” the official stressed.
Defense Minister Lee Jong-sub reported the drone’s entry into part of the area to Yeonjun during a briefing Wednesday on anti-drone measures, such as plans to secure radar-evading drones and “unmanned aerial vehicles” systems.
Earlier, the Joint Chiefs of Staff dismissed media reports fueling speculation that the drone had penetrated the area. Its spokesperson, Col. Lee Seung-joon, even expressed “great regret” in a statement, dismissing the reports as “untrue and baseless.”
Meanwhile, the army plans to conduct more air defense exercises, including with live fire, under the scenario of infiltration by small hostile drones, on Thursday afternoon, according to officials.
The exercise will involve about 50 aircraft, including Ka-1 light attack aircraft and 500MD helicopters, armed forces with unmanned jamming rifles. The military previously held an anti-drone drill on December 29, days after North Korean drones were infiltrated.