North Korea has accused its southern neighbor, South Korea, of using drones to intrude into its airspace and spread anti-national sentiments among its people. The Foreign Ministry of North Korea, in a statement released on Friday, October 11th, claimed that South Korean drones were detected in the night skies of Pyongyang, the country’s capital. The isolated nation labeled this alleged drone intrusion as a violation of its “sacred” sovereignty and a threat to its security.
North Korea’s Foreign Ministry issued a stern warning to South Korea, threatening immediate retaliation for any future intrusions. “The safety lock on our trigger has now been released. We will be prepared for everything and will be watching. The criminals should no longer gamble with the lives of their citizens,” AP quoted North Korea’s ministry as saying.
According to the North Korean Foreign Ministry’s statement carried out by state news agency KCNA, several drones were spotted at night entering Pyongyang and scattering “numerous” anti-North Korea leaflets both last week and this week. The statement also accused South Korea of planning further drone intrusions and warned of strong retaliatory action. The ministry urged South Korea to suspend such actions, stating that “This irresponsible and dangerous provocation that could lead to armed conflict and even war between the two sides should be stopped immediately,” as quoted by Reuters.
South Korea’s military swiftly refuted North Korea’s accusations, asserting that it had not flown any drones into its neighboring country’s territory. This denial was reported by Reuters citing Yonhap news agency. It’s worth noting that several activists in South Korea utilize balloons and drones to distribute leaflets carrying messages critical of Kim Jong Un.
The relationship between North and South Korea remains tense, marked by a history of conflict. While the two nations technically ended the 1950-53 Korean War with an armistice, not a peace treaty, the border tension remains a key concern for both countries and the international community. This latest accusation and threat of retaliation only serve to further complicate the already volatile situation on the Korean Peninsula.
