The Blue House announced on Sunday that it would investigate and promptly disclose findings regarding North Korea’s claims of a drone incursion from South Korea.
The National Security Office emphasized that the government reiterates its lack of intent to provoke or antagonize North Korea.
The National Security Office said the government would carry out a thorough investigation into the drone incident, starting with the military’s initial assessment and followed by a joint military-police probe, and that the findings would be released promptly. It also noted that the administration would continue implementing practical measures to ease tensions and build trust between North and South Korea.
Kim Yo Yong, deputy director of the Workers’ Party of Korea Central Committee, said in a statement carried by Rodong Sinmun that she personally viewed the South Korean Defense Ministry’s official position of having no intention to provoke or stimulate North Korea as a wise choice for maintaining inter-Korean relations.
However, she insisted that there must be a detailed explanation regarding the drone that crossed into North Korea from South Korean territory, raising questions about the South Korean government’s accountability.
The previous day, the Ministry of National Defense responded to North Korea’s General Staff statement on drones by saying that the South Korean military does not possess such drones and did not operate any drones during the period specified by North Korea. The ministry added that it would thoroughly investigate the possibility of civilian drone operations.
President Lee Jae Myung also addressed the possibility of civilian drone involvement, saying that if confirmed, it would constitute a serious crime threatening peace on the Korean Peninsula and national security. He ordered the formation of a joint military-police investigation team to carry out a swift and rigorous inquiry.
The Blue House official told News1 that the entire investigation process needed to be monitored, adding that since the military did not deploy the drone, there was no risk of damaging inter-Korean relations.