- Catherine Armstrong
- BBC news
South Korea’s military has apologized for failing to shoot down five drones that North Korea sent across the shared border on Monday.
South Korea fired warning shots and sent attack and non-attack helicopters to shoot down the planes, one of which flew near the capital, Seoul.
Despite the five-hour manhunt, all drones were reported to have returned to North Korea.
The South Korean president said the incident showed the military’s readiness “was sorely lacking”.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, which represents major branches of its military, acknowledged in a statement Tuesday that while the military can counter “strike drones that pose a real threat,” its ability to detect and targeting smaller drones used for espionage is limited.
“The lack of preparation of our military has caused people a lot of anxiety,” said a senior official, Kang Shin-chul.
He added that the army will “actively use detection devices to detect enemy drones at an early stage and deploy equipment to hit them hard.”
Jane Mackenzie of the BBC in Seoul said it was worrying because drones that have been flying near Seoul have the ability to conduct surveillance and photograph sensitive areas.
South Korean President Yoon Sok-yul said in a cabinet meeting on Tuesday that he will seek to expedite the creation of a military unit to monitor North Korea’s military facilities in response to Monday’s incident, and that such a unit will be equipped of advanced drones.
He blamed his predecessor, Moon Jae-in, for his “dangerous” policy towards North Korea that included a 2018 military deal that banned hostile activity in the border areas between the two Koreas.
The drone crash, which was monitored on Monday, was the first time in five years that North Korean drones have entered the southern neighbor’s airspace, and comes amid rising tensions on the peninsula as North Korea has conducted a record number of missile tests this year.
Local media reported on Tuesday another possible sighting of a drone in South Korea, but the defense ministry said it was a flock of birds.
North Korea said earlier this month it had conducted major tests needed to help it develop its first spy satellite, which could be used to monitor South Korea.
It released an aerial photo of Seoul that it said was taken during the test.
Experts believe North Korea is working to refine and improve its weapons, in order to pressure the United States to ease sanctions in any future negotiations.
