Military: "Last Month, North Korean Drone Partially Violated Northern No-Fly Zone"

Flight suspected at 3km above Jongno airspace... Possible filming from Yongsan

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] It was revealed belatedly that one of the North Korean drones that violated our airspace on the 26th of last month intruded into the no-fly zone (P-73) established for presidential security.

A military official stated on the 5th, "According to the investigation by the Combat Readiness Inspection Office, the flight path presumed to be of a small drone that entered Seoul appears to have passed through the northern edge of the no-fly zone," adding, "We clearly state that there is no abnormality in the safety of the Yongsan Presidential Office."

However, some speculate that the drone may have flown across P-73 and possibly filmed the Yongsan Presidential Office. P-73 is a zone set at approximately 3.7 km (2 nautical miles) radius above the presidential office. Initially, P-73 was established centered around the Blue House in Jongno-gu, Seoul, but it was redefined last May when the presidential office relocated to Yongsan.

The drone that violated Seoul airspace was detected by a small drone detection radar (SSR) deployed by the Capital Defense Command. However, this radar did not track the drone's entire route and only detected certain segments. It is known to have flown at an altitude of 3 km. If it flew at this altitude over Jongno-gu, it is believed that it could effectively observe Yongsan.

Earlier, on the 29th of last month, the military expressed "strong regret," denying opposition claims that the North Korean drone likely violated the no-fly zone (P-73).