The arms proliferation tension in Asia is causing growing International concern. Two days ago, South Korea’s joint Chief of Staff said North Korea flew several drones across their mutual border.
They said the drones violated South Korean airspace.
According to reports, one of the drones flew as far as the capital, Seoul.
The South Korean military said it had fired warning shots before sending up jets and helicopters to shoot them down.
One of the warplanes, a KA-1 light attack aircraft, later crashed, but its two pilots escaped unhurt.
According to the air force, which was quoted by Yonhap news agency, the plane crashed in Hoengseong County, east of Seoul, just after taking off from an air base in the adjacent city of Wonju.
For almost an hour, South Korean flights took off and landed at both Incheon and Gimpo airports.
The last time a North Korean drone crossed the border was in June of 2017.
South Korean military officials said at the time that the drone had photographed a US missile defence system before crashing.
Officials in Seoul say North Korea has previously touted its drone program and has about 300 of the unmanned vehicles.
In 2014, several suspected North Korean drones were found south of the border, and while experts said they were low-tech, they could still be considered a potential security threat.
Last Friday, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters, according to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
