Authorities have summoned a civilian to investigate if the person sent drones towards North Korea, police said days after North Korea threatened responses to what it called drone flights from South Korea.
North Korea’s military said that it used electronic warfare assets to bring down a South Korean drone earlier this month and another last September.
It said it found the drones had video data on sites in North Korea and warned that South Korea “will pay a dear price”.
South Korea dismissed the accusation but launched an investigation to determine whether civilians were responsible for launching the drones that were discovered in North Korea.
On Friday, South Korea’s national police agency said a military-police joint task force summoned a civilian suspect and was investigating the person. It gave no further details.
The alleged drone flights came as South Korea’s liberal government, led by President Lee Jae-myung, was pushing hard to reopen long-dormant talks with North Korea and restore reconciliation between the rivals.
After the North Korean accusation, Lee called for a thorough probe and said civilians flying drones across the border was “a grave crime” that threatens national security and peace.
But North Korea has ramped up its pressure on South Korea.
On Tuesday, Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, called on South Korea to apologise over the case and derided Seoul’s reported hopes for better ties as “wild dreams” that “can never come true”.
Many experts say North Korea likely aims to promote anti-South Korea sentiments among its public ahead of the upcoming ruling Workers’ Party congress, likely set for later in January or February. — AP
