SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – South Korea military dismissed warning shots, fighter jets took off and observations flew assets across a heavily fortified border with North Korea on Monday, after North Korean drones violated its airspace for in first time in five years, officials said.
South Korea military found five drones from North Korea crossing the border, and one traveled to the north of capital of South Korea regionJoint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea of The staff said.
military replied firing warning shots and launch of fighters and attack shooting helicopters down North Korean drones. attack helicopters produced a total of 100 rounds but it was not immediately known whether the North Korean drones fired down. There were no immediate reports of civil damage on Earth in South Korea, according to the Ministry of Defense.
One of aircraft KA-1 light attack the plane crashed on takeoff, but its two pilots ejected safely, defense officials said. They said that also requested civil airports in and near Seoul to temporarily stop takeoffs.
South Korea also sent observation assets take pictures near and abroad key military facilities in North Korea as related measures against According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, North Korean drone flights. It has not been specified, but some observers say that South Korea has likely launched drones into North Korean territory.
“Our military deal with this kind of of North Korean provocation,” Major General Lee Seung Oh director of operations in the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea of Staff, told reporters.
South Korea public confirmation of any intelligence activity in North Korea is highly unusual and probably reflects resolve through conservative government led by President Yoon Seok Yeol to become tougher on North Korean provocations. North Korea can respond with more fiery rhetoric or weapons tests or other provocations, some observers say.
On Friday, South Korea detected two short range ballistic missile launches by North Korea. latest in hot country run of weapon testing is year. Friday launches were seen as a protest of South Korean-American joint air exercises that North Korea sees as invasion rehearsal.
This first time for North Korean drones will enter South Korean airspace from 2017, when a suspected North Korean drone was found crashed in South Korea. South Korean military officials said at the time that the drone with Sony-made camera photographed an American rocket defense system in South Korea.
North Korea previously advertised its drone program, and South Korean officials said North Korea has about 300 drones. In 2014, several alleged North Korean drones equipped with Japanese-made cameras were found south of the border. Experts say they were low.tech but can be seen as a potential security risk.
Earlier this month, North Korea said it had conducted major tests needed to acquire it first spy satellite and more mobile intercontinental ballistic missile capable of of reaching the US mainland. They were among the high-tech weapons systems that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un promised to implement along with with multipurpose warheads, submarine-launched nuclear missiles, nuclear submarines and hypersonic missiles.
North Korea releases low-res video photos of South Korean cities, view from spacebut some specialists in South Korea said the images were too rough for surveillance purposes. Such assessments angered North Korea, with Kim powerful Kim Yo-jong’s sister gives out series of derisive terms insult unknown South Korean experts and vent their anger.
North Korea will key conference of the ruling Workers’ Party this week to review past politics and set policy goals. Some experts say that during the meeting, North Korea is likely to reiterate its commitment to beefing up its nuclear and missile arsenals to deal with the situation. with what he calls hostile US policies, such as US-led international sanctions and regular military training with South Korea.
North Korea after all use its heightened nuclear capability as a trump card for win international recognition as a legitimate nuclear state, weakening of international sanctions and other concessions, analysts say.
