"North Korean Drone That 'Did Not Come to Yongsan'... Stirred East-West Seoul"

Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop: "They Have Not Reached Yongsan"

Some of the materials reported by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the National Assembly

[Asia Economy Military Specialist Yang Nak-gyu] Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop stated regarding the North Korean drone that violated airspace, "It did not come as far as Yongsan."

Minister Lee appeared at an emergency inquiry of the National Defense Committee in the National Assembly on the 28th and explained about the North Korean drone flying over Seoul airspace, saying, "I am confident it did not come as far as Yongsan," and "It is confirmed step-by-step by surveillance assets."

According to the photos attached to the report submitted by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the National Defense Committee on the same day, the North Korean drone that invaded Seoul airspace appears not to have entered Yongsan-gu, which is within the jurisdiction. However, the military reports that it flew across the east-west direction of Seoul, passing through Goyang-si in Gyeonggi-do, then Eunpyeong-gu, Seodaemun-gu, Seongbuk-gu, and Jungnang-gu.

The drone that penetrated Seoul airspace was detected by a small drone detection radar (SSR) deployed by the Capital Defense Command. However, this radar did not track the drone's entire route at the time and only detected certain sections. The SSR can detect objects with an RCS (Radar Cross Section, the ratio of electromagnetic waves reflected by an object) as small as 0.03㎡. It was introduced in 2018 at a cost of 430 million KRW per unit. Its detection range is 9 km. When linked with the thermal imaging surveillance equipment (TOD)-type 3, it can secure drone images at a distance of 2.5 km.

However, the attempt to shoot down the drone that penetrated Seoul airspace failed. Although six drone radio jamming devices (SS) were introduced in 2016, their jamming range is outside 2 km, so even attempts to jam the signal were not possible.

A government official said, "Although the Capital Defense Command detected the drone with the SSR, it only detected some sections, so it would have been difficult to strike it with the SS."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.