South Korea launches jets, fires shots after North flies drones

South Koreas 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 officials saidSouth Koreas 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 South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff saidThe 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 wasnt immediately known if the North Korean drones were shot down There were no immediate reports of civilian damage on the ground in South Korea according to the Defense MinistryOne of the aircraft a KA1 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 temporarilySouth 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 didnt elaborate but some observers say that South Korea likely flew unmanned drones inside North Korean territoryOur military will thoroughly and resolutely respond to this kind of North Korean provocation Maj Gen Lee Seungo director of operations at the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff told reportersAlso read Russia shoots down Ukrainian drone near its Engels airbase reports Russian MilitarySouth Koreas 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 sayOn Friday South Korea detected two shortrange ballistic missile launches by North Korea the latest in the countrys torrid run of weapons tests this year Fridays launches were seen as a protest of the South KoreanUS joint air drills that North Korea views as an invasion rehearsalIts 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 Sonymade camera photographed a US missile defense system in South KoreaNorth Korea has previously touted its drone program and South Korean officials said the North has about 300 drones In 2014 several suspected North Korean drones equipped with Japanesemade cameras were found south of the border Experts said they were lowtech but could be considered a potential security threatEarlier this month North Korea claimed to have performed major tests needed to acquire its first spy satellite and a more mobile intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the US mainland They were among hightech weapons systems that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to introduce along with multiwarheads underwaterlaunched nuclear missiles nuclearpowered submarines and hypersonic missilesNorth Korea released lowresolution photos of South Korean cities as viewed from space but some experts in South Korea said the images were too crude for surveillance purposes Such assessments infuriated North Korea with Kims powerful sister Kim Yo Jong issuing a series of derisive terms to insult unidentified South Korean experts and express her angerNorth Korea is to hold a key ruling Workers Party conference this week to review past policies and set policy goals Some experts say that during the meeting North Korea will likely reaffirm its push to bolster nuclear and missile arsenals to cope with what it calls hostile US policies such as USled international sanctions and its regular military training with South KoreaNorth Korea would eventually use its boosted nuclear capability as a bargaining chip to win international recognition as a legitimate nuclear state the relaxing of international sanctions and other concessions analysts sayThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever