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| ▲ Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back attends a parliamentary legislation and judiciary committee meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul on Jan. 12, 2026. (Yonhap) |
defense minister-drone incursion
Defense chief says willing to propose inter-Korean probe over drone incursion claim
SEOUL, Jan. 12 (Yonhap) -- Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said Monday he is open to the idea of proposing a joint probe with North Korea into its claim of drone incursions into the country through the United Nations Command (UNC).
On Saturday, the North's military claimed that South Korea violated the North's sovereignty by sending drones into its territory in September and on Jan. 4, but Seoul's defense ministry denied the claim.
"I am thinking of suggesting a joint inter-Korean probe through the UNC," Ahn told lawmakers at a parliamentary legislation and judiciary committee session, when asked about whether he is open to such an option in the event the North returns the drones.
On whether the possibility of the drones being sent by civilians is high, Ahn said he "assumes so."
A joint team of some 30 police and military officials has started investigating the alleged incursions, after President Lee Jae Myung called for a prompt probe into the allegations.
The U.S.-led UNC is an enforcer of the armistice that stopped the fighting in the 1950-53 Korean War and oversees activities inside the Demilitarized Zone -- a buffer zone between the two Koreas since the three-year conflict ended without a peace treaty.
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