North Korean Drones Penetrate South Korean Airspace, Make It to Seoul

Article

This isn't unprecedented. NK drones have flown into South Korea for years.

This part caught my eye though:

Four of the drones vanished from South Korea’s radar hours after being detected. The fifth drone was tracked returning to the North after spending roughly three hours in South Korea, Seoul’s military said. In recent years, lax border controls have dogged South Korea’s government, with individuals slipping undetected in and out of the North by sea and land.

Now South Korea’s potential vulnerabilities in the skies are likely to be questioned, as tensions have escalated on the Korean Peninsula to their highest levels in years.

So my thoughts to you guys are: Questioned by who? Are any experts raising concerns about SK's defenses, or is this just the media not knowing what they're talking about?

To me 3 hours sounds like a pretty shoddy response. Another part of the article says they don't know whether the drones were armed or not. Shouldn't they have been shot down then?

Were they unable to or unwilling to? Is this a real lack of defensive capability by the South, or more just a lack of a proper defense posture and naive rules of engagement?

Would the US shoot down drones under similar circumstances?

I wonder why other nations haven't tried.

Must be scary to poke the bear, knowing it's military budget is over a trillion dollars PER YEAR.

Sounds as if the South Korean military had a response

abcnews.go.com...

They don't exactly look high tech sounds like they shot them down instead of them disappearing

SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korea’s military fired warning shots, scrambled fighter jets and flew surveillance assets across the heavily fortified border with North Korea on Monday, after North Korean drones violated its airspace for the first time in five years in a fresh escalation of tensions.

South Korea’s military detected five drones from North Korea crossing the border, and one traveled as far as the northern part of the South Korean capital region, which is about an hour’s drive away, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

The military responded by firing warning shots and launching fighter jets and attack helicopters to shoot down the North Korean drones. The attack helicopters fired a combined 100 rounds but it wasn’t immediately known if any of the North Korean drones were shot down, according to the Defense Ministry.

There were no immediate reports of civilian damage on the ground in South Korea. One of the North Korean drones returned to the North after three hours in South Korea, while the rest disappeared from South Korean military radars one after another, the Joint Chiefs said.

The North Korean drones and the swift response from the South came three days after the North fired two short-range ballistic missile in the latest in its torrid run of weapons tests this year. Friday’s launches were seen as a protest of the South Korean-U.S. joint air drills that North Korea views as an invasion rehearsal.

One of the South Korean fighter jets scrambled on Monday, a KA-1 light attack plane, crashed during takeoff but its two pilots both ejected safely, defense officials said. They said they also requested civilian airports in and near Seoul to halt takeoffs temporarily.

South Korea also sent surveillance assets near and across the border to photograph key military facilities in North Korea as corresponding measures against the North Korean drone flights, the Joint Chiefs said. It didn’t elaborate, but some observers say that South Korea likely flew unmanned drones inside North Korean territory.

“Our military will thoroughly and resolutely respond to this kind of North Korean provocation,” Maj. Gen. Lee Seung-o, director of operations at the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters.

South Korea’s public confirmation of any reconnaissance activities inside North Korea is highly unusual and likely reflects a resolve by the conservative government led by President Yoon Suk Yeol to get tough on North Korean provocations. North Korea could respond with more fiery rhetoric or weapons tests or other provocation, some observers say.

It’s the first time for North Korean drones to enter South Korean airspace since 2017, when a suspected North Korean drone was found crashed in South Korea. South Korean military officials said at the time that the drone with a Sony-made camera photographed a U.S. missile defense system in South Korea.

North Korea has touted its drone program, and South Korean officials have previously said the North had about 300 drones. In 2014, several suspected North Korean drones equipped with Japanese-made cameras were found south of the border. Experts said they were low-tech but could be considered a potential security threat.

a reply to: face23785

That’s one of the fun things about small, slow UAVs. They’re hard to track, and unless you have the right weapons, harder to shoot down. Launching high performance aircraft is well and good, but they aren’t going to do well against them, due to their speed. Launching the Cobras against them was a good choice.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: face23785

That’s one of the fun things about small, slow UAVs. They’re hard to track, and unless you have the right weapons, harder to shoot down. Launching high performance aircraft is well and good, but they aren’t going to do well against them, due to their speed. Launching the Cobras against them was a good choice.

They need this!



That'll do it!

P

a reply to: face23785

Feels like the early probes to gauge international attention.

Russia/Ukraine has taken a lot of the global focus and aiming at a nation with a GDP the size of Texas. Other countries have been poking around to see just how much traction the events garner.

Truly an interesting time to be alive. And I know it’s not unprecedented for North Korea, but the timing of border crossing clandestine missions does make one think… especially since it’s not just them.

originally posted by: Archivalist
Would the US shoot down drones under similar circumstances?

I wonder why other nations haven't tried.

Must be scary to poke the bear, knowing it's military budget is over a trillion dollars PER YEAR.

It’s almost like they read The Art of War.

Almost.

originally posted by: putnam6
Sounds as if the South Korean military had a response

abcnews.go.com...

They don't exactly look high tech sounds like they shot them down instead of them disappearing

SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korea’s military fired warning shots, scrambled fighter jets and flew surveillance assets across the heavily fortified border with North Korea on Monday, after North Korean drones violated its airspace for the first time in five years in a fresh escalation of tensions.

South Korea’s military detected five drones from North Korea crossing the border, and one traveled as far as the northern part of the South Korean capital region, which is about an hour’s drive away, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

The military responded by firing warning shots and launching fighter jets and attack helicopters to shoot down the North Korean drones. The attack helicopters fired a combined 100 rounds but it wasn’t immediately known if any of the North Korean drones were shot down, according to the Defense Ministry.

There were no immediate reports of civilian damage on the ground in South Korea. One of the North Korean drones returned to the North after three hours in South Korea, while the rest disappeared from South Korean military radars one after another, the Joint Chiefs said.

The North Korean drones and the swift response from the South came three days after the North fired two short-range ballistic missile in the latest in its torrid run of weapons tests this year. Friday’s launches were seen as a protest of the South Korean-U.S. joint air drills that North Korea views as an invasion rehearsal.

One of the South Korean fighter jets scrambled on Monday, a KA-1 light attack plane, crashed during takeoff but its two pilots both ejected safely, defense officials said. They said they also requested civilian airports in and near Seoul to halt takeoffs temporarily.

South Korea also sent surveillance assets near and across the border to photograph key military facilities in North Korea as corresponding measures against the North Korean drone flights, the Joint Chiefs said. It didn’t elaborate, but some observers say that South Korea likely flew unmanned drones inside North Korean territory.

“Our military will thoroughly and resolutely respond to this kind of North Korean provocation,” Maj. Gen. Lee Seung-o, director of operations at the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters.

South Korea’s public confirmation of any reconnaissance activities inside North Korea is highly unusual and likely reflects a resolve by the conservative government led by President Yoon Suk Yeol to get tough on North Korean provocations. North Korea could respond with more fiery rhetoric or weapons tests or other provocation, some observers say.

It’s the first time for North Korean drones to enter South Korean airspace since 2017, when a suspected North Korean drone was found crashed in South Korea. South Korean military officials said at the time that the drone with a Sony-made camera photographed a U.S. missile defense system in South Korea.

North Korea has touted its drone program, and South Korean officials have previously said the North had about 300 drones. In 2014, several suspected North Korean drones equipped with Japanese-made cameras were found south of the border. Experts said they were low-tech but could be considered a potential security threat.

That article says it isn't known if they shot any of them down. The picture is from another incident.

originally posted by: Archivalist
Would the US shoot down drones under similar circumstances?

I wonder why other nations haven't tried.

Must be scary to poke the bear, knowing it's military budget is over a trillion dollars PER YEAR.

It's not. It's high enough, I really don't see the need to exaggerate it.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: face23785

That’s one of the fun things about small, slow UAVs. They’re hard to track, and unless you have the right weapons, harder to shoot down. Launching high performance aircraft is well and good, but they aren’t going to do well against them, due to their speed. Launching the Cobras against them was a good choice.

I was wondering about that. Launching fighters against these things sounded more like a show of force.

Still, shouldn't they be able to shoot them down with AAA?

a reply to: face23785

It's a very small target to lock on to, but in theory, if they find them, yes.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: face23785

It's a very small target to lock on to, but in theory, if they find them, yes.

Now Seoul is sending drones into North Korean air space.


news.yahoo.com...

originally posted by: face23785

originally posted by: putnam6
Sounds as if the South Korean military had a response

abcnews.go.com...

They don't exactly look high tech sounds like they shot them down instead of them disappearing

SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korea’s military fired warning shots, scrambled fighter jets and flew surveillance assets across the heavily fortified border with North Korea on Monday, after North Korean drones violated its airspace for the first time in five years in a fresh escalation of tensions.

South Korea’s military detected five drones from North Korea crossing the border, and one traveled as far as the northern part of the South Korean capital region, which is about an hour’s drive away, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

The military responded by firing warning shots and launching fighter jets and attack helicopters to shoot down the North Korean drones. The attack helicopters fired a combined 100 rounds but it wasn’t immediately known if any of the North Korean drones were shot down, according to the Defense Ministry.

There were no immediate reports of civilian damage on the ground in South Korea. One of the North Korean drones returned to the North after three hours in South Korea, while the rest disappeared from South Korean military radars one after another, the Joint Chiefs said.

The North Korean drones and the swift response from the South came three days after the North fired two short-range ballistic missile in the latest in its torrid run of weapons tests this year. Friday’s launches were seen as a protest of the South Korean-U.S. joint air drills that North Korea views as an invasion rehearsal.

One of the South Korean fighter jets scrambled on Monday, a KA-1 light attack plane, crashed during takeoff but its two pilots both ejected safely, defense officials said. They said they also requested civilian airports in and near Seoul to halt takeoffs temporarily.

South Korea also sent surveillance assets near and across the border to photograph key military facilities in North Korea as corresponding measures against the North Korean drone flights, the Joint Chiefs said. It didn’t elaborate, but some observers say that South Korea likely flew unmanned drones inside North Korean territory.

“Our military will thoroughly and resolutely respond to this kind of North Korean provocation,” Maj. Gen. Lee Seung-o, director of operations at the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters.

South Korea’s public confirmation of any reconnaissance activities inside North Korea is highly unusual and likely reflects a resolve by the conservative government led by President Yoon Suk Yeol to get tough on North Korean provocations. North Korea could respond with more fiery rhetoric or weapons tests or other provocation, some observers say.

It’s the first time for North Korean drones to enter South Korean airspace since 2017, when a suspected North Korean drone was found crashed in South Korea. South Korean military officials said at the time that the drone with a Sony-made camera photographed a U.S. missile defense system in South Korea.

North Korea has touted its drone program, and South Korean officials have previously said the North had about 300 drones. In 2014, several suspected North Korean drones equipped with Japanese-made cameras were found south of the border. Experts said they were low-tech but could be considered a potential security threat.

That article says it isn't known if they shot any of them down. The picture is from another incident.

Im aware it was an old photo, article says

The attack helicopters fired a combined 100 rounds but it wasn’t immediately known if any of the North Korean drones were shot down, according to the Defense Ministry.

What is troubling is the response time seems very slow. I agree with Critical Stinker though it seems like probing for weaknesses and or them testing systems and being a general irritant.

here's a more detailed article it seems they sent 4 to one area while they sent one towards Seoul

www.koreatimes.co.kr...

a reply to: putnam6

Thanks for confirming what I said. It wasn't known if they shot any down.

Later articles confirm they didn't shoot down any.

The South Korean military apologizes to their people for their failure in this incident.

originally posted by: face23785
a reply to: putnam6

Thanks for confirming what I said. It wasn't known if they shot any down.

Later articles confirm they didn't shoot down any.

The South Korean military apologizes to their people for their failure in this incident.

The cultural differences, the military apologizes.

www.koreaherald.com...

Shin said there would be considerable limitations in intercepting UAVs with airburst ammunition if they fly over residential areas.

“If shells explode in the air, their debris falls to the ground. Because of that, the military would see difficulties in intercepting unmanned aerial vehicles with concern over civil damages,” Shin said, elucidating that the falling debris could take a toll on civilians.

“In that regard, I understand the military’s decision. I don’t think we can justify causing civil damages to bring down a North Korean unmanned aerial vehicle.”

But Choi Hyun-ho, a military columnist at the JoongAng Ilbo, underscored that there has been almost no improvement in expanding defense means to bring down or intercept UAVs should they intrude past the inter-Korean border.

“The infiltration of North Korean drones proved that the South Korean military’s capability to detect has been enhanced, but it seems that there were no other means left to intercept the drones despite the military’s explanation about its concern about civil damages,” Choi told The Korea Herald.

a reply to: putnam6

maybe use 20 mm rubber bullets?