Lee Geon Wan, director of South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (ADD), addressed the drone depicted in photos released by North Korea, which claim to show a South Korean drone flying over Pyongyang. He remarked that identifying the drone is difficult, stating, “Many drones have similar shapes, from commercial models to those developed by our military, making it challenging to determine specifics based on this image.”
On Tuesday morning, during a hearing of South Korea’s National Assembly Defense Committee, Director Lee responded to a question from Democratic Party member Kim Byeong Ju, who inquired whether the drone released by North Korea resembles any models developed in South Korea.
He pointed out that the drone North Korea sent to South Korea in 2014 was similar in design to the one recently revealed. He explained that the North Korean model, known as the Sky 09, shares features that complicate the definitive identification of the drone type.
Lee further emphasized that, from the ADD’s perspective, they have never sent drones into North Korea’s airspace. He added, “The only information available to us is the images released by North Korea, so we have no other material to analyze.”
Last week, North Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement alleging that a South Korean drone intruded into the airspace over Jung-gu, Pyongyang, on October 3, 9, and 10. They also released photos of the drone along with the anti-North Korean leaflets it purportedly dispersed.
Kim Yo Jong, deputy director of the North Korean Workers’ Party, commented on the matter, stating, “We are clearly aware that the main perpetrators of the Pyongyang drone incident are the trash of the South Korean military,” repeatedly holding the South Korean government accountable for the drone incident.