In response to North Korea's accusations of sovereignty-violating drone flights in late 2025 and early 2026, and Kim Yo Jong's demand for explanation, South Korea has ordered a joint military-police investigation while pledging to ease tensions and build trust on the peninsula.
Building on Pyongyang's January 10 claims—detailed in prior coverage—the North Korean military reported shooting down a drone near Ganghwa County on January 4, 2026, using electronic warfare. Recovered debris included Chinese components, a Samsung-logo memory card, and footage of North Korean sites. A September 2025 incident near Paju yielded nearly six hours of similar video.
Kim Yo Jong, on January 11, demanded Seoul's 'detailed explanation,' warning of severe repercussions. South Korea's military denied involvement, citing mismatched drone models and no flights on those dates, and floated possible private actors.
President Lee Jae Myung ordered a task force on January 10, labeling any confirmed acts a 'grave crime' to peace. On January 12, Unification Ministry spokesperson Yoon Min Ho stressed ongoing efforts to 'alleviate tensions and build trust' via prompt investigation, denying provocative intent. Defense Ministry spokesperson Chung Bin Na pledged a swift police-led probe exploring all possibilities, including civilians.
Seoul had proposed Military Demarcation Line talks in November 2025, unanswered by Pyongyang. Korean editorials criticized North Korea's hypocrisy, referencing its past trash balloon launches, and called for restraint to prevent escalation.
