On February 18, 2026, South Korea's Unification Minister Chung Dong-young revealed that three civilians had sent drones into North Korea on four separate occasions since President Lee Jae Myung took office in June 2025. This revelation has significantly strained inter-Korean relations, with Chung stating, "We express official regret to the North," emphasizing the seriousness with which the government is treating these incidents. The drones were reportedly flown between September 2025 and January 2026, with two crashing in North Korea and two returning to Paju, a border settlement in South Korea. The ongoing investigation has led to suspicions against the civilians for violating the Aviation Safety Act and benefiting an enemy, while some officials from South Korea's military intelligence and National Intelligence Service are also under scrutiny for potential involvement. Chung noted, "It was an extremely dangerous incident aimed to induce an attack against South Korea by sending 18 drones on 11 occasions, to sensitive areas in North Korea," referring to a previous drone operation under ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has since been indicted on charges including aiding an enemy state.