| More on this story from yesterday. |
"Our military first detected a North Korea
...hereditary Communist monarchy distinguished by its truculence and periodic acts of violence. Distinguishing features include Songun (Army First) policy, which involves feeding the army before anyone but the Dear Leadership, and Juche, which is Kim Jong Il's personal interpretation of Marxism-Leninism, which he told everybody was brilliant. In 1950 the industrialized North invaded agrarian South Korea. Twenty-one countries of the United Nations eventually contributed to the UN force opposing the invasion, with the United States providing around 90% of the military personnel. Seventy years later the economic results are in and it doesn't look good for Juche...n unmanned aerial vehicle around the Gimpo airspace at 10:25 am (0125 GMT)," the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a statement.
"Several North Korean unmanned aerial vehicles invaded our airspace" in the border areas around Gyeonggi province, it added.
The incursion prompted Seoul to fire warning shots and deploy fighter jets and attack helicopters.
One of the warplanes, a KA-1 light attack aircraft, later crashed in Hoengseong County, Yonhap news agency reported.
embarrassing
The military did not indicate whether the objects had been shot down, or had gone back over the border, one of the most heavily-fortified locations in the world.
But Yonhap reported that South Korean warplanes were trying to shoot down the drones, some of which reached airspace near the capital Seoul.
Flights were temporarily suspended at Gimpo and Incheon international airports -- the country's two major hubs -- for about an hour at the request of the JCS, according to Yonhap, which cited an official from South Korea's transport ministry.
Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said the incident marked the first time that South Korean flights were suspended over "the appearance of North Korean drones", adding they were likely for spying purposes.
"Considering North Korea's poor level of drone development, there is little possibility that they carry the drone attack capabilities used in modern warfare," he added.
"It is speculated that they came over to our area as part of reconnaissance training during the recent winter training."
| Courtesy of Skidmark, a BBC update at 2:10 p.m. ET: |
Seoul fired warning shots and sent jets and attack helicopters to shoot down the aircraft, one of which flew close to the capital.
Despite a five-hour pursuit, the drones reportedly all returned to North Korea.
Low and slow, perfect for aerosol dispersion.