North Korea Slams South Korea over Alleged Drone Provocations
North Korea recently accused South Korea of sending unmanned drones carrying propaganda leaflets to Pyongyang, calling it an “irresponsible and dangerous provocation.” Pyongyang threatened to respond with force if the flights continued. However, South Korea denied the allegations, with Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun stating that they had not sent any drones into North Korea.
The tensions between the two countries have escalated, with North Korea claiming the drones were detected in Pyongyang’s skies on multiple occasions. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff could not confirm North Korea’s accusations but highlighted Pyongyang’s practice of sending balloons with rubbish into South Korean airspace.
Since May, North Korea has been sending balloons filled with paper waste and plastic across the border in retaliation against South Korean activists distributing anti-North Korean propaganda. In response, South Korea has utilized loudspeakers to broadcast propaganda and K-pop at the border.
The situation remains volatile as North Korea threatens to permanently shut off the southern border and build defense structures against perceived threats from the South and US forces.