South Korea apologized to its citizens on Tuesday for not shooting down North Korean drones that crossed its borders for the first time in five years.
Lt. Gen. Kang Shin Chul, chief operating officer of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a televised address that the military deployed fighter jets and attack helicopters but was unable to eliminate the drones, including one that remained in South Korea for three hours.
The South Korean military detected five drones on Monday, but none were shot down before they returned to North Korean airspace or disappeared from Seoul’s radar.
In this photo provided by the South Korean Ministry of Defense, a US B-52 bomber, C-17 and South Korean Air Force F-35 fighter jets fly over the Korean Peninsula during a joint air drill in South Korea, Tuesday, December 20, 2019. 2022.
(South Korean Defense Ministry via AP)
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The mishap raised serious concerns about Seoul’s defense abilities as Pyongyang’s stance of force has become increasingly aggressive.
Kang said the South Korean military lacks the ability to detect and attack small surveillance drones that have a wingspan of less than 9.8 feet, though he said his army could detect and attack larger combat drones.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday called for an increase in Seoul’s drone development and stronger air defenses.
In this photo provided by the South Korean Ministry of Defense, a South Korean Air Force F15K fighter jet fires 2 JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) bombs at an island target in South Korea on October 4. of 2022.
(South Korean Defense Ministry via AP, File)
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“We have a plan to create a military drone unit tasked with monitoring key military installations in North Korea. But we will move forward with establishing the drone unit as soon as possible due to yesterday’s incident,” he said during a regular Cabinet Council meeting. . “We will also introduce state-of-the-art stealth drones and strengthen our surveillance capabilities.”
Amid a slew of missile tests this year, including two ballistic missile tests a few days ago, North Korea has touted its drone development, and Seoul estimates Pyongyang has roughly 300 drones in its arsenal.
A suspected North Korean drone is seen at the Ministry of Defense in Seoul, South Korea, June 21, 2017. South Korea said on Monday, December 26, 2022, that it fired warning shots after North Korean drones violated airspace. from the south.
(Lee Jung-hoon/Yonhap via AP)
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In response to North Korea’s record 90 ballistic and cruise missile tests this year, a staggering four times the number of missile tests conducted in 2021, South Korea has intensified its military exercises with the US and regional allies like the Philippines.
Seoul and Washington have called on China to do more to help them oppose North Korea’s uncontrolled weapons development, particularly as concerns grow that it could test a nuclear warhead next.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
