North Korea announces the downing of a South Korean drone over its territory

North Korea announced on Saturday that it had shot down a drone launched by South Korea in early January over its territory, warning that Seoul would “pay a heavy price” for this incursion.

A North Korean military spokesman said in a statement published by the official North Korean Central News Agency that Pyongyang detected an air target “moving north” near the South Korean province of Ganghwa, and shot it down near the North Korean city of Kaesong, located on the border.

Ganghwa Province, northwest of Seoul, is separated from North Korea by the mouth of the Han River, which is less than 2 kilometers wide in some places.

The military spokesman stated that the drone was equipped with “surveillance devices,” noting that analysis of its debris showed that it took pictures of “important targets” in North Korea, including the border areas.

He added that these photos “constitute definitive evidence” that the drone “entered the republic’s airspace with the aim of monitoring and reconnaissance of our lands.”

North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency accused South Korea of ​​sending a similar drone over Kaesong in September, saying the plane crashed after experiencing electronic jamming.

The North Korean military spokesman added, “South Korea is the most aggressive enemy against us, and its nature will not change, and it is a target that must be destroyed if it attacks us.”

“Seoul will pay a heavy price for its hysterical and inexcusable behavior,” he threatened.

The South Korean presidency announced that the National Security Council will hold a meeting on Saturday to analyze the situation.

North Korea’s Central News Agency published photos showing the wreckage of a drone that included parts of a camera, and aerial photos that it said were taken by the drone.

The agency also published the path of the drone that appeared flying over the city of Kaesong before it crashed.

Experts indicated that this march is a commercial model available to the general public, ruling out its use by South Korean forces.