A joint military-police task force investigating allegations of a South Korean drone’s incursion into North Korea has begun questioning civilian suspects. In a recent television interview, a man in his 30s claimed responsibility for sending the drone that North Korea publicly disclosed.
Channel A reported on January 16 that Mr. A, a graduate student in his 30s, asserted ownership of the drone recently revealed by North Korea. He specified that he had launched drones on three separate occasions since last September, with the dates aligning with two instances reported by North Korea.
During the interview, Mr. A stated that he personally applied camouflage paint to the blue drone showcased by North Korea.
He explained that he painted it himself, so that pattern would be hard to find anywhere else on Earth. He applied a type of camouflage paint hoping it wouldn’t be spotted by people in North Korea. Mr. A also released video footage, claiming it was captured by the drone.
Mr. A revealed that he decided to come forward after learning that the task force had summoned his associate, Mr. B, who allegedly assisted in constructing the drone.
Regarding his motives for the drone flights, he stated that he intended to measure radiation and heavy metal contamination levels at the uranium facility in Pyongsan County. He believed it was justifiable given his purpose. He didn’t capture any images of the military installations. He added that he plans to report to the police for questioning in the near future.
Earlier, on January 10, the General Staff of the North Korean People’s Army alleged that a South Korean drone had violated their airspace on December 4 and December 9 of last year.
In response, President Lee Jae Myung ordered the joint military-police investigation team to conduct a swift and thorough inquiry. On January 11, he stated that if the allegations prove true, it would constitute a serious crime threatening peace on the Korean Peninsula and national security.