Even the minister's report was delayed... The theory of responsibility for the Joint Chiefs of Staff grows over 'North Korea's unmanned aerial vehicles'

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When North Korea sent down an unmanned aerial vehicle at the end of last year, the fact was not communicated to the Minister of National Defense as well as to the Capital Defense Command, which defends Seoul.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff has been conducting a fact-finding investigation for two weeks, and it is pointed out from within the military that the center of the poor response is the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

What this means, Kim Tae-hoon, a defense reporter, covered.

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At 10:19 am on the 26th of last month, the North Korean drone that was first detected had already passed the end of the no-fly zone for the defense of the Yongsan Presidential Office around 10:50 am.

The KA-1 light attack aircraft, which took a sortie to track the drone, crashed in Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon-do at 11:39 am, and the North Korean drone swung over Seoul without much restraint.

Until then, the defense minister, who had the authority to command the entire army, was completely unaware of the situation.

[Kim Byung-ju/Democratic Party member (28th of last month, National Defense Commission): When did you get the report?]

[Lee Jong-seop/Defense Minister (28th of last month, National Defense Commission): around 11:50...]

[Kim Byung-ju/Democratic Party member (28th of last month) , National Defense Commission): The drone (acquisition time) was 10:25, but the Minister reported

it after an hour.

In case of emergency, there is a guideline for 'preliminary action candidate reporting', but the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Ground Operations Command did not inform the Minister until the status of the front-line unit's action was reported several times and the 'crane', a readiness for enemy aircraft, was issued.

A senior government official told SBS, "The Joint Chiefs of Staff is at the center of the total insolvency response."

The War Preparedness Inspection Office, which has been conducting a fact-finding investigation for the second week, is paying attention to whether there were fatal loopholes in subordinate unit measures, upper-level reports, and overall communication between the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

However, there are many opinions that the war readiness inspection room belongs to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, so it can properly investigate high-ranking positions such as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

(Video coverage: Hwang In-seok, Video editing: Jung Sung-hoon)