Lee Hyo-jin covers the Bank of Korea, the banking industry and broader financial news. Her previous beats include foreign affairs, North Korea and general reporting on Korean society.
South Korea slams NK for taking drone complaint to UN
A purported drone, indicated by the large red circle, and a pack of leaflets, in the smaller red circle, are seen in this photo published by the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency, Oct. 12. The regime claimed that South Korean drones scattered anti-North Korean leaflets over Pyongyang on three occasions on Oct. 3, 9 and 11. Yonhap
By Lee Hyo-jin
Pyongyang takes airspace intrusion claim to ICAO
South Korea on Tuesday criticized North Korea for taking its allegations of South Korean drone incursions to the United Nations aviation agency, urging Pyongyang not to politicize the incident without providing clear evidence.
The North Korean regime, which suspects the South Korean military was behind the alleged drone incursions that occurred in October, recently submitted a request to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to investigate the incident.
"Our position is that we oppose North Korea's attempt to politicize the ICAO issue without presenting clear evidence. Additionally, North Korea should first halt its GPS jamming attacks, which pose serious threats to the international community and the safety of civilian aircraft," a foreign ministry official said on condition of anonymity.
While the ICAO has not confirmed whether Pyongyang made the request, officials in Seoul are reportedly considering response measures in preparation for a possible investigation by the international organization.
"We believe it is not appropriate for us to speak on matters that have not been formally addressed by the relevant international organization," foreign ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong said.
However, Lee noted that, under ICAO regulations and practices, the organization is required to look into any issues raised by its member states.
Both South and North Korea are ICAO member states.
The allegations of the drone incursions date back to October, when Pyongyang claimed that South Korean drones dropped anti-Pyongyang leaflets over its capital on three separate occasions earlier that month.
The North unveiled its analysis of the flight logs of the drones, alleging that they took off from Baengnyeong Island in the West Sea. The reclusive regime described the acts as "shameless provocation by the South Korean military gangsters" and threatened immediate retaliation in the event of further intrusions.
The South Korean military has refused to comment directly on the North's claims, stating that they are “neither worth confirming nor refuting.”
"We do not have any specific comments on the matter," defense ministry spokesperson Jeon Ha-kyou said at a briefing on Tuesday, when asked about the ICAO complaint.
Lee Jae-woong, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, speaks during a briefing at the ministry headquarters in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
The North's request for a U.N. probe into the drone allegations comes at a sensitive time for South Korea, as the country is dealing with the political turmoil resulting from the fallout of President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration.
Some opposition lawmakers have speculated that the government may have been behind the alleged drone incursions, which came less than two months before Yoon's sudden declaration of martial law on Dec. 3.
They claimed that the drone launches may have been intended to provoke Pyongyang. During the 1960s and 1980s, South Korea's authoritarian regimes often cited North Korean threats to justify suppressing dissent and civil liberty.
However, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) refuted these claims.
"It is our strategy to maintain secrecy while exerting psychological pressure on our enemy by causing confusion and ultimately gaining an advantage," JCS Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo said during a parliamentary session, Jan. 14.
"The moment our cards are revealed, we can no longer create psychological conflict or confusion for the enemy, which is why the cards must not be disclosed."
The United Nations Command (UNC), which oversees the armistice between the two Koreas, launched a probe into the drone intrusion allegations but has yet to announce its findings.
The UNC did not immediately respond to The Korea Times' inquiry regarding its investigation.