South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has directed authorities to investigate a civilian accused of flying a drone into North Korea, deeming it an unacceptable act that warrants strong action. This directive came during a Cabinet meeting, following the questioning of the civilian by a joint military-police team over the alleged drone intrusion. President Lee emphasized the gravity of sending drones unlawfully to North Korea or infiltrating its territory with drones.
North Korea recently accused South Korea of violating its sovereignty through drone incursions in September last year and on January 4. The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un demanded that Seoul acknowledge and apologize for the incident. However, South Korea’s military refuted these allegations, stating that the drones in question were not military-operated models, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
President Lee expressed disbelief that a civilian could have independently dispatched a drone to gather intelligence from North Korea, hinting at possible involvement of state institutions. He likened this action to a provocative act akin to ‘firing a gun’ at the North, emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation and stringent measures to prevent such incidents in the future. Additionally, he criticized Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back for failing to detect the drone activities, highlighting deficiencies in the surveillance system.
Furthermore, President Lee cautioned against escalating tensions with North Korea unnecessarily, citing potential negative impacts on the economy and inter-Korean relations. He stressed the importance of avoiding further confrontation to maintain stability in the region.
