Overview
- KCNA quoted the Korean People’s Army General Staff saying air defenses used electronic warfare to force a South Korean reconnaissance drone down over North Korean territory on January 4.
- North Korea said it recovered onboard footage showing nearly seven minutes over its territory and assessed the drone as programmed for a three-hour mission to film key sites.
- Reuters, citing KCNA, reported the drone allegedly took off near Incheon and was allowed to fly about eight kilometers before being brought down.
- South Korea’s defense ministry said its forces did not operate drones on the dates cited and confirmed President Lee Jae-myung ordered a thorough investigation.
- Pyongyang warned of retaliatory measures and labeled the South an enemy, with the dispute set against earlier contested drone operations linked by a special prosecutor to the previous administration.