Seoul issues statement amid drone claims, focus on talks with North Korea
Seoul: The Unification Ministry said on Monday that the South Korean government will continue efforts to de-escalate tensions and build trust with North Korea, despite Pyongyang’s recent claims accusing Seoul of drone intrusions into the country.
Unification Ministry spokesperson Yoon Min-ho made the statement after President Lee Jae-myung last week ordered the formation of a joint military-police investigation team to investigate the alleged drone intrusions.
On Sunday, Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, demanded that Seoul provide details. This demand came a day after the North Korean military claimed that the South violated the North’s sovereignty by sending drones equipped with surveillance equipment in September and on January 4.
“It is important for the investigation team to immediately find out the truth and continue efforts to de-escalate tensions and build trust between South and North Korea,” the spokesperson said at a press briefing. According to a report by Yonhap News Agency, Yoon also reiterated Seoul’s stance that it has no intention of provoking or inciting North Korea.
South Korea’s military has denied sending drones on the dates mentioned by North Korea or operating the models found in North Korea, raising the possibility that they were flown by private companies.
On Saturday, North Korea claimed that South Korea had violated its sovereignty with drone incursions last September and earlier this week, and said Seoul should be prepared to “pay a heavy price” for the provocation.
But South Korea’s Defense Ministry rejected Pyongyang’s claim, saying that the South Korean military did not operate drones on the dates mentioned by North Korea. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a spokesperson for the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army issued a statement calling South Korea the “most dangerous” enemy. He stressed that Seoul has been carrying out provocative actions that contradict its efforts to engage in dialogue with Pyongyang.
“The Republic of Korea (ROK) should be prepared to pay a heavy price for another provocative act of violating the DPRK’s sovereignty with a drone,” the spokesperson said, referring to South Korea by its official name. DPRK is short for North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
