"Anxious Every Night but Told Not to Worry"… US Citizens Angry After a Month of Drone Sightings

Public Frustration Grows Over 'Lax Response'
Trump and Andy Kim Join Criticism Amid Authorities' Incompetence Debate

Recently, reports of unidentified drones appearing in the eastern United States, including New Jersey and New York, have continued for a month, leading to growing public dissatisfaction with the U.S. government. Citizens criticized the authorities for their "complacent response," as they maintain that the unidentified drones do not seem to pose a threat to public safety.

Since last month, unidentified drones have appeared along the East Coast, including New Jersey, sparking rumors in the area that Iran might be launching drones over the Atlantic Ocean. AP·Yonhap News

On the 14th (local time), foreign media such as the Financial Times (FT) reported that the White House, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced in a joint briefing that "the recent surge in drone sighting reports is a misidentification of manned aircraft." An FBI official stated, "Drone sighting reports are concentrated around flight paths near surrounding airports." Major international airports operate in the eastern U.S., including New York's JFK Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Newark Airport in New Jersey. According to the FBI, out of 5,000 reports of unidentified drone sightings, fewer than 100 were deemed to require actual investigation.

However, public opinion has expressed disbelief at the authorities' stance. Since last month, as unidentified drones have appeared along the eastern seaboard, including New Jersey, rumors have spread in the area suggesting that Iran might be deploying drones over the Atlantic Ocean. There is speculation that the drones could originate from hostile foreign countries such as Iran.

James Dodd, mayor of Dover City in northern New Jersey, reacted to the authorities' announcement that drone reports were misidentifications of aircraft as "shocking." Mayor Dodd criticized, "The United States, which has the capability to shoot down missiles from 8,000 km away, cannot even properly identify the source of these drones." Larry Hogan, former governor of Maryland, said he recently witnessed dozens of large drones over his home and stated, "The public feels concern and frustration due to the federal government's lack of transparency and indifferent attitude."

Experts explain that under current U.S. laws, the measures authorities can take against drones are limited. Although there are regulations such as no-fly zones, bans on flying over sensitive areas like nuclear power plants, and altitude limits of 400 feet (approximately 122 meters), these rules are not being properly enforced. In particular, U.S. drone detection company Dedrone claimed that over 1.1 million violations have occurred this year alone. However, state and local police do not have the authority to block drones, making it difficult to crack down on violators.

Recently, reports of unidentified drones appearing in the eastern regions such as New Jersey and New York have continued for a month, and public dissatisfaction with the U.S. government is also spreading. Citizens criticized the authorities for their "complacent response," as they maintain the position that the unidentified drones do not seem to pose a threat to public safety. AP·Yonhap News

In response, President-elect Donald Trump stated on social media that "if the federal government cannot inform the public about the reality of the drones, they should be shot down." Not only Trump but also Korean-American Senator-elect Andy Kim urged the federal government to take responsible action. On the 14th, Kim posted on his Facebook page.

In his post, Kim said, "I believe this situation reflects the current state of America in some ways," adding, "People have many anxieties about the economy, healthcare, and security issues, but those responsible for addressing these matters often do not treat the public with respect and depth." He emphasized, "I will continue to pressure the authorities to get answers about the suspected drone objects and to help understand what is happening."