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President Lee Jae Myung speaks throughout a Cupboard assembly at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps
President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday instructed authorities to conduct a radical investigation right into a civilian accused of flying a drone into North Korea, calling it an unacceptable act that requires stern measures.
Lee made the remarks throughout a Cupboard assembly, because the civilian was questioned by a joint military-police investigation group final Friday over the alleged drone incursion.
“It’s unacceptable to ship drones to the North for illegal functions or for a civilian to infiltrate drones into North Korean territory,” he mentioned.
North Korea claimed early this month that South Korea infringed on its sovereignty with drone incursions in September final yr and on Jan. 4.
The influential sister of North Korean chief Kim Jong-un demanded Seoul admit to and apologize for the incident.
South Korea’s navy has denied such claims, saying the drones in query weren’t fashions operated by the navy.
Lee mentioned it was unimaginable {that a} civilian alone might have despatched the drone to collect intelligence from the North, noting speculations that state establishments might have been concerned within the case.
“From what has been revealed to this point, a civilian recklessly despatched a drone to North Korea, which is tantamount to beginning a conflict,” he mentioned, likening the act to “firing a gun” on the North.
“We should examine the matter completely and take stern measures to make sure such acts by no means occur once more,” he added.
Lee then reprimanded Protection Minister Ahn Gyu-back for failing to detect the drone actions.
“How might you not detect the drones shifting forwards and backwards regardless of such developments in expertise and protection capabilities,” he mentioned. “This implies there’s a gap in our surveillance system.”
He additionally instructed the authorities to keep away from an pointless escalation of tensions with the North, warning that additional confrontation might hurt the economic system and pressure inter-Korean ties.
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