In a swift move amid rising tensions, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has directed authorities to launch an immediate investigation into claims of drone intrusions into North Korean airspace. Speaking on Saturday, Lee warned that if the allegations hold true, they represent a grave threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula and the nation’s security.
North Korea has accused South Korea of sending drones into its territory in late September 2025 and early January 2026, labeling it a blatant violation of sovereignty. Seoul’s Defense Ministry, however, has firmly denied these charges, calling them baseless.
President Lee emphasized that even if the drones were operated by private individuals or groups rather than state actors, such actions would still constitute a serious offense. He instructed the military and police to expedite their inquiries to uncover the truth.
Pyongyang’s state media, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), reported that North Korean forces shot down a drone on January 4, attributing it to South Korean espionage efforts. Similar claims surfaced in late September when KCNA released images of alleged drone wreckage near the border city of Paju, pinning the blame squarely on Seoul.
South Korea’s Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-back dismissed the evidence, noting that the drone models in North Korea’s photos do not match any in the South Korean military’s inventory. ‘These accusations are completely unfounded,’ he stated.
The Lee administration, which assumed power in June 2025, has been pushing for improved ties with the North, but Pyongyang has rebuffed these overtures. North Korea warned that South Korea would pay a heavy price for escalating tensions.
This latest episode risks further inflaming the already volatile Korean Peninsula, where investigations into prior drone incidents from former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s tenure remain unresolved. As both sides dig in, the potential for miscalculation looms large, underscoring the fragile state of inter-Korean relations.