South Korea imposes travel bans on three civilians over alleged drone flights into North Korea

FILE PHOTO: These images taken on January 4, 2026 and released as a combo image by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency via KNS on January 10, 2026 shows an aerial view of Kaesong city, which North Korea claims is footage taken retrieved from a drone from South Korea that violated North Korean airspace and brought down by specialised electronic warfare assets. North Korea accused the South on January 10 of flying another drone over its territory this month for the purpose of spying, a claim that Seoul denied. - KCNA VIA KNS/AFP

SEOUL: South Korea placed overseas travel bans on three people as part of an investigation into alleged drone flights over North Korea that have deepened animosities between the rivals, authorities said Friday (Jan 23).

North Korea threatened retaliation earlier this month after accusing South Korea of launching a surveillance drone flight in September and again in January. The South Korean government denied operating any drones during the times specified by North Korea and began probing if civilians sent them.