North Korea has accused South Korea of deploying drones to scatter a large number of anti-regime leaflets over its capital, Pyongyang, labeling the action a significant political and military provocation.
North Korea's foreign ministry warned that this intrusion could escalate into armed conflict if not stopped.
According to North Korea’s state news agency KCNA, the drones were allegedly flown over Pyongyang at night during the past week. North Korea is now threatening retaliatory measures in response to what it considers a violation of its sovereignty.
The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) responded by stating that they could not verify North Korea’s claims. However, they referred to North Korea's ongoing practice of sending balloons into South Korean airspace filled with bags of trash, a tactic that has heightened tensions between the two nations.
North Korea, in its statement, demanded an immediate halt to what it called "irresponsible and dangerous provocations" by South Korea, warning that the actions could lead to war.
Pyongyang's accusations come after a series of similar incidents in which balloons carrying critical messages about North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have been launched from South Korea. Some of these balloons also carry humanitarian aid for North Korean citizens.
KCNA released images of what it claimed were drones scattering leaflets. The leaflets allegedly criticized the North’s leadership and compared the economic disparities between North and South Korea.
Meanwhile, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that an investigation would be launched to determine whether any private groups were involved in sending the leaflets across the border.
Tensions between the two countries escalated further in December, when five North Korean drones entered South Korean airspace, prompting a military response from Seoul.
With both nations technically still at war following the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty, North Korea has issued a stark warning: any future drone incursion will be met with immediate retaliatory action.