TL:DR – South Korea Urges Citizens to Cease Drone Flights Over North Korea | Latest News
- South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young calls for an end to civilian drone flights into North Korea, citing damage to inter-Korean relations.
- Three civilians flew drones, two of which crashed in North Korea, prompting investigations into aviation law violations.
- North Korea warns of severe consequences for future provocations and has urged Seoul to conduct an investigation.
- The situation follows a controversial drone operation by former President Yoon Suk Yeol, leading to his indictment for aiding an enemy state.
South Korea asks citizens to stop flying drones to North Korea | News World
Chung Dong-Young has pleaded with civilians to stop (Picture: AFP)
### South Korea Urges Civilians to Halt Drone Flights into North Korea
South Korea is asking civilians to stop flying drones into North Korea after two of them crashed, angering its northern neighbour. South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young stated that three civilians had sent drones to North Korea on four occasions, which have harmed inter-Korean ties.
### Investigation into Drone Incidents
A trio flew the aircraft between September 2025 and January, Chung said, citing a joint police and military investigation. Two of the drones crashed in North Korea, consistent with Pyongyang’s claims, while the others returned to the south. Authorities are investigating the civilians on suspicion of violating aviation safety laws and aiding the enemy; some officials from military intelligence and the National Intelligence Service are also under investigation for possible involvement. “We express official regret to the North,” Chung noted, emphasizing that the government is taking the incident very seriously.
### North Korea’s Warning and Previous Incidents
North Korea has urged Seoul to investigate, warning that provocations could lead to “terrible situations.” This follows a previous incident where former South Korean president, Yoon Suk Yeol, sent 18 drones to the north, which Chung termed “an extremely dangerous incident.” South Korean prosecutors indicted Yoon in April 2025 on charges including aiding an enemy state, accusing him and his military commanders of ordering a covert drone operation into the North to escalate tensions and justify his martial law decree. Facing severe consequences, Yoon denies any wrongdoing.
### Speculations Surrounding Kim Jong-un’s Succession
The apology comes amid spreading rumors that Kim Jong-un has chosen his daughter as his successor. Until recently, the young teenager was kept away from public observation but has begun attending high-profile events with her father. The Kim family remains secretive, and speculation surrounds how many children Kim and his wife, Ko Yong-hui, have.
Reports indicate that Kim Ju-ae is the middle child of three and is believed to be around the age of 13 or 14, though her birthday remains unknown. She was first introduced to former NBA star Dennis Rodman during one of his visits to North Korea in early 2013. Her first public appearance in Western media occurred in November 2022, when she was seen accompanying her father during an inspection of the launch of the country’s largest ballistic missile, a Hwasong-17 intercontinental.
Kim Ju-ae’s increasing public profile could suggest that she may eventually take on a leadership role and present the Kim family in a monarchical style.