South Korea has responded to North Korean drones by launching jets, opening fire, and attacking helicopters to shoot down North Korean aircraft.
South Korean military said that military has also sent surveillance aircraft into the North to photograph its military installations.
Joint Chiefs of Staff Lee Seung-o said, “This is a clear act of provocation by the North violating our airspace.”
Lee said, “The South Korean military operated assets to shoot down the drones.”
Lee also added that South Korea first only shot warning shots.
According to the Yonhap news agency, the South Korean military ejected about 100 shots but failed to shoot any down.
According to the Joint Chief of Staff, one of the drone attacks was known to have returned to North Korea, while the other four were lost.
Lee claimed that a South Korean spy plane flew into the North to take pictures of North Korean drone flights in action, implying that the North Korean drones were also intended for reconnaissance.
North Korea has performed an unusually large number of missile tests this year to improve its weapons and exert pressure on rivals to make compromises such as lifting the sanctions in future negotiations.
Recently, the North claimed to have completed major tests required for the acquisition of its first spy satellite along with a more mobile intercontinental ballistic missile that could reach the United States mainland.
