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yesterday

North Korea Alleges South Korean Drone Incursions as Seoul Denies, Orders Probe

Pyongyang released photos it says are downed drones, with outside analysts doubting the aircraft are military models.

These images taken on January 4, 2026 and released as a combo image by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) via KNS on January 10, 2026 shows wreckage of a drone that North Korea claims originated from South Korea, and brought down by specialised electronic warfare assets after violating North Korean airspace.
These images taken on January 4, 2026 and released as a combo image by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) via KNS on January 10, 2026 shows an aerial view of Kaesong city, which North Korea claims is footage taken retrieved from a drone from South Korea that violated North Korean airspace. Seoul denies the allegation.
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Overview

  • KCNA said a drone from South Korea crossed into the North on Jan. 4 and was forced down near Kaesong using electronic warfare, repeating a similar claim from Sept. 27, 2025.
  • North Korea asserted the drones carried surveillance gear and stored footage of northern areas, citing nearly seven minutes from the Jan. 4 flight and 5 hours 47 minutes from the earlier case.
  • South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back called the accusations completely untrue, saying the aircraft shown are not models operated by the ROK military.
  • Seoul said no military drone flights occurred on the dates named by Pyongyang, President Lee Jae Myung ordered a thorough investigation, and Ahn proposed a joint inquiry.
  • Independent verification is lacking, and experts reviewing KCNA photos said the wreckage appears to use inexpensive commercial components rather than military-grade systems.