South Korean military apologizes after 'drone war' fiasco
South Korean Air Force F15K fighter jets and US Air Force F-16 fighter jets fly in formation during a joint exercise at an undisclosed location in South Korea, the Tuesday, October 4, 2022, in response to the launch of a North Korean missile over Japan.
© South Korean Ministry of Defense via AP
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
On Monday, December 26, five North Korean drones flew over the inner suburbs of Seoul, one of them even entering the airspace of the capital.
The multiple South Korean planes and helicopters sent to shoot them down failed in their mission, sparking debate over the military's inability to protect the country.
On Wednesday, the Minister of Defense apologized, while the President called once again to show the muscles in the face of North Korea.
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With our correspondent in Seoul,
Nicolas Rocca
Respond to every North Korean provocation without fear of the nuclear threat.
President Yoon Suk-yeol's instructions demonstrate the executive's desire to escape the criticism that is accumulating after the incursion of North Korean drones on Monday, December 26.
It must be said that the new details of the operation reveal significant dysfunctions.
Unable
to shoot down the five drones
despite fighter jets and a hundred shots from helicopters, the South Korean army also saw one of its planes crash during the maneuvers.
Tuesday, during the day, a new military operation was launched after the detection of suspicious traces in the sky, it was in fact only birds.
An offensive option towards
The executive swept aside the rumors relayed in the press that one of the North Korean drones had managed to photograph the presidential office located in the heart of Seoul.
But the embarrassment remains palpable.
Yoon Suk-yeol therefore plays the offensive card: 2 or 3 drones sent to North Korea for each North Korean drone in southern airspace.
Responding eye for eye, tooth for tooth, the best strategy according to him to deter future North Korean provocations.
►Also read: North Korea: "Going into a conflict is nobody's will"
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South Korea
North Korea
Defense
Yoon Suk-yeol