North Korean drone intruded on no
An attack helicopter flies during an anti-drone training exercise in Paju, a city near the inter-Korean border, Thursday. Yonhap |
Possibility of drone taking photos cannot be ruled out: spy agency
By Jung Min-ho
The North Korean drones that crossed into South Korea last week were not advanced ones: The glider type model, which appears to be an imitation of common Chinese commercial drones, probably cost less than 10 million won ($7,800), an expert says.
Yet the drones were able to create an air of anxiety and insecurity in South Korea, where the military is now scrambling to improve its anti-drone defense system. After having seen how effective the unmanned aerial vehicles can be for heightening tensions, the North will likely repeat such provocations in the year ahead, according to analysts Thursday.
"North Korea is expected to continue to use cost-effective methods for provocation such as a drone invasion," Oh Gyeong-seob, an analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU), a think tank, said during a forum on North Korea's New Year messages. "What North Korea ultimately wants is to be recognized as a nuclear weapons state. To achieve that, it needs to keep stirring up tensions to move Washington ― but probably not to the point where South Korea and the U.S. would retaliate … Drones can be one of the effective tools for this."
This assessment comes the same day that South Korea's military shifted its previous stance to admit that one of the five North Korean drones entered the northern end of a no-fly zone surrounding the office of President Yoon Suk-yeol on Dec. 26.
US will work closely with Seoul to monitor NK threats: Pentagon 2023-01-06 08:38 | North Korea
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) initially denied the media reports that the drone traveled that far until its radar data analysis showed it clearly did.
Speaking to reporters, a JCS official said the drone flew through a part of the "northern tip" of the P-73 zone, which covers a 3.7-kilometer radius around the presidential building in central Seoul.
Members of the National Assembly's intelligence committee, Rep. Yoo Sang-bum of the ruling People Power Party and Rep. Youn Kun-young of the Democratic Party of Korea, later said the possibility of the drone taking pictures of the presidential complex cannot be ruled out, citing intelligence officials.
The National Intelligence Service also said North Korea has about 500 drones of 20 different types, most of which are small ― from one to six meters in length ― including those capable of carrying self-destruct attack devices, Yoo said.
A TV screen shows footage of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a news program at Seoul Station, Jan. 1. AP-Yonhap |
After the incident, the president ordered the military to strengthen its defense system against small drones. But it may take months, if not years, to build a reliable system. Sooner or later, the North might move again to exploit the proven vulnerability, said Shin Jong-woo, a senior researcher at the Korea Defense and Security Forum.
"A drone that size would probably be able to carry 500 grams of explosive substances, which I think is insufficient for significant damage to key facilities here," Shin told The Korea Times. "But it would make big headlines and cause security concerns among the public. That's what we should be worried about and prepared for."
KINU researchers said North Korea will focus more on beefing up its military this year, with leader Kim Jong-un calling for an "exponential increase" of nuclear weapons.
"North Korea's New Year messages were largely focused on strengthening the military. The proportion was the biggest in years. Meanwhile, the economic part was very small," said Hong Min, a senior researcher at KINU. "With some 20 joint military drills planned with the U.S. for the first half of the year alone, tensions are expected to continue to rise … All this suggests a tense year ahead."
(责任编辑:产品中心)
- Yes, big spiders are spreading in the U.S. No, they're not flying.
- 夜太美!高州根子镇柏桥村换上“限定款”年味夜市皮肤了
- Kim's sister slams UNSC meeting over ICBM launch, defends it as exercise of self
- Stunning photo shows Perseverance's Mars landing from above
- 采购商+48,英德红茶在泉城济南蹭蹭涨粉
- Prime exclusive deal: $50 off Govee floor lamp
- Coronavirus outbreak empties out airports around the world
- Coronavirus outbreak empties out airports around the world
- Apple's iPhone 13 will come with 1TB storage option, report claims
- Keurig K Mini deal — get $30 off at Target
- N. Korea confirms test
- How to enable dark mode on WhatsApp for iOS and Android
- Coronavirus outbreak empties out airports around the world
-
Military prosecutors indict intel official over leaking 'black agent' info
(Getty Images Bank)The defense ministry's prosecutors' office on Tuesday indicted a milita ...[详细] -
Elon Musk says college is 'for fun,' addresses Starlink criticism
Despite having a BS in economics and a BA in physics, Elon Musk doesn't think going to college is a ...[详细] -
NK fires ballistic missile toward East Sea: S. Korean military
North Korea conducts an "important final-stage test" at Sohae Satellite Launching Ground in Cholsan, ...[详细] -
Trump impeachment efforts should be bipartisan.
Popular in News & Politics What These Stories About Samuel Alito’s A ...[详细] -
'Terminator Zero' creators find fresh life in sci
In the 40 years since a low-budget action film from a relatively unknown filmmaker and crew blasted ...[详细] -
Ruling party's presidential candidate raps Japan for meddling in Dokdo issue
Lee Jae-myung, presidential nominee of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (Yonhap)The ruling Democ ...[详细] -
NK fires ballistic missile toward East Sea: S. Korean military
North Korea conducts an "important final-stage test" at Sohae Satellite Launching Ground in Cholsan, ...[详细] -
Bruley, the famous 'Queer Eye' French bulldog, has died
It's a sad day for Queer Eyefans around the world because Bruley, the French bulldog beloved by the ...[详细] -
Amazon Android Days sale 2024: Save on unlocked phones, tablets, and more
Table of ContentsTable of ContentsUPDATE: Aug. 28, 2024, 1:50 p.m. EDT This story has been updated w ...[详细] -
Djokovic entered on Indian Wells draw
INDIAN WELLS:Novak Djokovic was entered into the draw for this week's ATP/WTA Indian Wells tourn ...[详细]
NASA's new plan keeps Starliner astronauts in space until 2025
Jennifer Aniston posts adorable throwback, proves she already has Instagram nailed
- New Grok response directs users to Vote.gov for election questions
- Cat gets petty revenge by pushing another cat in the pool
- Trump tweets misleading claim about FBI agents’ missing texts to discredit Russia probe.
- Elon Musk says college is 'for fun,' addresses Starlink criticism
- First officially approved Gen IV nuclear reactor in the US breaks ground
- Tech giants to pay contractors despite virus
- 又到油菜籽收获季 田间地头农人忙