Seoul [South Korea], December 27: Suspected drones from North Korea have entered South Korean airspace without permission, according to military reports on Monday.
South Korea's military detected several unmanned aircraft in the border region early in the day and initially responded with loudspeaker announcements and warning shots, the general staff in Seoul announced.
Later, the Air Force sent planes and helicopters to track and shoot down the drones.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff assumed that they were small drones from the neighbouring country that had flown over the military demarcation line. This was a "clear act of provocation," it said.
Whether the drones were shot down was not initially clear.
This is the first time since 2017 that a border incident of this kind has been reported. Back then, South Korea's military had recovered a suspected spy drone near the heavily fortified border with North Korea after it crashed.
The aircraft was said to have been programmed to fly back to North Korea at the time.
The latest incident came at a time of rapidly growing tensions in the region.
North Korea has tested nuclear-capable missiles several times this year, in violation of UN resolutions. Pyongyang is subject to tough international sanctions because of its nuclear weapons programme.
South Korea and the United States resumed full-scale joint military exercises this year, which are primarily intended to deter North Korea.
Source: Qatar Tribune
