Seoul says North Korean drone entered crucial no-fly zone

South Korea had denied a drone intruded into a no-fly zone near the presidential office, but reversed stance and confirmed it violated northern end of area

Crossing sparked criticism over South Korea’s air defences, as President Yoon Suk-yeol contemplated scrapping a 2018 border agreement with the North

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South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is shown on a TV screen in Seoul. Photo: AP/File

Published: 3:51pm, 5 Jan 2023

A North Korean drone entered the northern end of a no-fly zone surrounding South Korea’s presidential office in Seoul when it intruded into the South’s airspace last week, the South’s military said on Thursday.

It was among five North Korean drones that crossed into the South on December 26, prompting South Korea’s military to scramble fighter jets and attack helicopters. The military was unable to bring down the drones, which flew over the South for hours.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) had denied that one of the drones intruded into a no-fly zone near the presidential office, but on Thursday reversed its stance and confirmed it had violated the northern end of the area.

A JCS spokesperson said there was a change in its analysis after an inspection of the military’s readiness posture over the latest intrusion.

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The military said the North’s unstaffed aircraft did not fly directly over the Yongsan area, where the office of President Yoon Suk-yeol is located.