South refutes N. Korea’s denial of drone incursion

The defense ministry criticized North Korea, Monday, for describing recent drone incursions as a fabrication by South Korea.

After recovering three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and examining them over the past three weeks, the ministry’s interim result released Friday identified the drones as coming from the reclusive state, based on circumstantial evidence.

However, the North’s Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea said the country had nothing to do with the aircraft, claiming that the South fabricated information about the drones in a move to slander the North.

“It is not appropriate for North Korea to refute its involvement in the drone incursions and even slander the South,” ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said in a briefing.

“The North is threatening international peace and security as well as that on the Korean Peninsula with incessant missile launches and nuclear tests. It should stop the provocations immediately.”

He added that despite the absence of any smoking-gun-like proof, there was enough circumstantial evidence to support the North’s involvement in the incursions of the UAVs.

Meanwhile, today is the birthday of North Korea founder Kim Il-sung ― called the Day of the Sun ― but there are no signs of any military parade there.

Another military official said: “They appear not to be staging a military pageant this year, given that there is no preparation at Sunan and Mirim Airports in Pyongyang.”

“However, some artillery has been deployed next to Mirim Airport, so we are closely monitoring it in preparation for possible military drills.”

Late last month, the North threatened to carry out a new form of nuclear test in response to a denouncement by the United Nations (U.N.) of its recent ballistic missile launches. In addition, the North has test fired its rockets and missiles from late February onwards.

But the spokesman said the military has not detected any special movements at the North’s missile and nuclear facilities. By Kang Seung-woo The korea times