Overview
- North Korea says it used electronic warfare to force down a drone on Jan. 4 near Kaesong after tracking it from Ganghwa County and released photos and purported onboard footage.
- Pyongyang also cites a Sept. 27, 2025 case it claims involved a drone from Paju, presenting both incidents as violations and warning Seoul would “pay a dear price.”
- Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back rejects the accusations as “absolutely not true,” saying the drones shown are not models used by South Korea’s military and that no flights occurred on the dates claimed.
- President Lee Jae Myung has directed a joint military–police inquiry, with officials checking whether private operators were involved and noting challenges in tracking northbound low-altitude flights.
- Kim Yo-jong demands a detailed explanation and threatens severe consequences for any repeat, as independent analysts say the parts shown look like inexpensive commercial components and the probe continues.