South Korea's Ministry of National Defense has firmly denied the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s allegations that its drones violated northern airspace earlier this month. The rebuttal follows a DPRK report published by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on January 10, 2026, claiming a South Korean drone entered its territory on January 4.
Disputed Evidence and Diplomatic Overture
Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek stated the drone shown in DPRK-released photos "does not match any operational models" used by South Korea's military. He proposed a rare joint investigation to resolve the dispute, marking a potential diplomatic opening amid heightened tensions. President Lee Jae Myung has ordered a full internal inquiry into the matter, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Incident Timeline Contested
The DPRK claims its military tracked and disabled the drone near Kaesong Municipality on January 4 after an eight-kilometer intrusion. South Korean officials maintain their surveillance systems detected no unauthorized cross-border activity that day. Analysts suggest the incident could test recent efforts to rebuild communication channels between the two militaries.
