Seoul: South Korea’s military has officially stated that it is not conducting investigations into the alleged flights of South Korean drones over North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang, earlier this month. This announcement comes in the wake of accusations from North Korea regarding multiple drone incursions, which it termed a “serious provocation.”
According to Yonhap News Agency, when questioned about the potential investigations into the alleged drone flights, Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) spokesperson Col. Lee Sung-jun dismissed the need for such actions, attributing the responsibility of clarification to North Korea. “I don’t know why the JCS should be investigating drones that appeared over Pyongyang. This is something that should be clarified by North Korea,” Lee stated during a briefing.
The controversy began last Friday when North Korea charged South Korea with sending drones over Pyongyang three times this month. However, South Korea has not confirmed the deployment of any drones as claimed by the North.
Further intensifying the situation, Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, alleged on Tuesday that her country had obtained “clear evidence” of the South’s involvement. She did not, however, provide any proof to support these claims.
In a related development, the South Korean military also noted the recent actions of North Korea, including the destruction of inter-Korean land routes. Earlier Thursday, North Korean state media showcased photographs depicting the detonation of parts of the western Gyeongui and eastern Donghae routes. One of these images was reportedly similar to footage previously released by the JCS. These detonations follow North Korea’s declaration last week of its intent to permanently seal its border with South Korea and construct defensive structures along the front line.