South Korea accuses North of drone provocation

South Korean military officials say North Korea has flown several drones across their mutual border.

The “unmanned aerial vehicles” violated South Korean airspace in the border areas around Gyeonggi province, said the country’s joint chiefs of staff.

One of the drones flew as far as the capital, Seoul, according to reports.

The South Korean military said it had fired warning shots before sending up jets and helicopters to shoot them down.

However, the attempt to bring down the drones had failed so far and was continuing, it added.

The drones were spotted crossing the border at about 10:30 local time (01:30 GMT).

One of the South Korean warplanes involved in the operation, a KA-1 light attack aircraft, later crashed, but its two pilots escaped unhurt.

The plane fell to the ground in Hoengseong County, east of Seoul, soon after take-off from an air base in the nearby city of Wonju, according to the air force, quoted by Yonhap.

South Korea also suspended planes taking off and landing at its Incheon and Gimpo airports for about an hour.

A South Korean military official described the latest incursion as a clear act of provocation by Pyongyang.

“Our military will continue to respond thoroughly and resolutely to North Korea’s provocations,” the military added.

The last time a North Korean drone crossed the border was five years ago in June 2017, when tensions between the two Koreas were last at their highest.

These drones are seen as a threat to South Korea’s security, as they could be used both to spy on it and launch an attack.