North Korea’s military accused South Korea of flying drones across the border between the nations this week, yesterday warning that the South would face consequences for its “unpardonable hysteria.”
Seoul quickly denied the accusation, but the development is likely to further dim prospects for its efforts to restore ties with Pyongyang.
North Korean forces used special electronic warfare assets on Sunday to bring down a South Korean drone flying over North Korea’s border town.
Photo: KCNA via Reuters
The drone was equipped with two cameras that filmed unspecified areas, the General Staff of the North Korean People’s Army said in a statement.
South Korea infiltrated another drone into North Korean airspace on Sept. 27 last year before it was forced to crash following electronic strikes by North Korea, the statement said, adding that authorities found the drone also contained videos of major objects in North Korea.
“We strongly denounce the hooligans’ serial outrageous encroachment upon our sovereignty and undisguised provocative acts against us,” it said. “The ROK military warmongers will be surely forced to pay a dear price for their unpardonable hysteria.”
The ROK is the abbreviation of the Republic of Korea, South Korea’s official name.
The South Korean Ministry of National Defense said it did not operate drones on the dates cited by North Korea and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung ordered a thorough investigation of the claim.
Since taking office in June, Lee’s government has pushed hard to reopen talks with North Korea and reconcile, but Pyongyang has steadfastly rebuffed his overture.
Pyongyang has shunned talks with Seoul and Washington since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s high-stakes nuclear diplomacy with US President Donald Trump fell apart in 2019 due to wrangling over international sanctions.
North Korea has since focused on building more powerful nuclear weapons and declared a hostile “two-state” system on the Korean Peninsula to terminate relations with South Korea.
Drone flights are a source of animosity between the two Koreas, with the rivals accusing each other of flying drones into their respective territories in recent years.
North Korea accused South Korea in October 2024 of flying drones over Pyongyang to drop propaganda leaflets three times.
South Korea’s military said it could not confirm whether the North’s claim was true.
Tensions rose sharply at the time, as North Korea threatened to respond with force, but neither side took any major action and tensions gradually subsided.
South Korea also has accused North Korea of occasionally flying drones over South Korea.
In December 2022, South Korea announced it fired warning shots, scrambled fighter jets and flew surveillance drones over North Korea in response to what it called North Korea’s first drone flights across the border in five years.
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