South Korean Miluter Stuttering After The North Korean Drone Nyelonong Border

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol (Photo: BPMI Setpres/Laily Rachev)

JAKARTA - President Yoon Suk Yeol promised to strengthen military surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities after five North Korean drones infiltrated South Korea's airspace.

South Korea is now aware that the incident proved that their military readiness posture and training were lacking and needed reinforcement.

"I believe people clearly see the dangers of North Korean policies relying on North Korean goodwill and military agreements," Yoon said at a cabinet meeting reported by Yonhap News, Tuesday, December 27.

"We have planned to form a drone unit to carry out surveillance and reconnaissance operations at North Korea's main military facility, but after yesterday's incident, we will increase the formation of as many drone units as possible," he added.

Yoon voiced regret that the National Assembly cut the government's proposed budget for anti-drone operations by 50 percent next year. Yoon promised to try to convince the Assembly to increase the number.

"We will strengthen our surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities by introducing advanced stealth drones," he said.

The National Assembly passed a government budget of 638.7 trillion won (US$497 billion) on Saturday morning after weeks of disputes between competing parties about how far the company's tax rate cuts and other issues were.

Under the compromise deal, the parties decided to cut the company's tax rate by 1 percentage point in each of the four tax groups, although the government and the ruling People's Power Party have called for a 3 percentage cut.

"It is regrettable that the government's first budget is aimed at reviving people's livelihoods in an economic situation that is difficult to revised sharply," Yoon said.

This week's Cabinet meeting attracted special attention as Yoon was appointed to approve pardons for a number of politicians, including former President Lee Myung-bak.

"We collect opinions from various circles and carefully decide the subject and scope of forgiveness," Yoon said.

"I hope this pardon will serve to unite our national powers."

Five North Korean drones crossed into South Korea on Monday, prompting Seoul to deploy fighter jets and attack helicopters to try to down the unmanned aircraft, a military official said.

As part of its response, the South Korean military also sent reconnaissance aircraft to North Korea to photograph Pyongyang's military installation, a South Korean military official said.

"This is a clear provocation by North Korea that violates our airspace," said South Korean official and Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Lee Seung-o, at a briefing.

One of the five North Korean drones flew near the South Korean capital Seoul and the other flew near the west coast.

Lee said the South Korean military "operated assets to shoot down" drones.

He did not say if any drones were shot down, but Yonhap news agency later said the South Korean military fired about 100 shots, but failed to shoot it down.