North Korea on Friday threatened a “terrible response” if more drones were spotted flying over the South Korean border.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has sought to repair relations with North Korea since taking office last year and criticized his predecessor for allegedly sending drones over Pyongyang for propaganda purposes.
But North Korea claims it shot down a surveillance drone just last month, an incident that could undermine Mr. Lee’s efforts to repair the problem.
Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has warned of serious consequences if the drones are not stopped.
“I forewarn that another provocation that violates North Korea’s inalienable sovereignty will surely provoke a terrible reaction,” Kim said in a statement carried by Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency.
“We don’t care who is the operator of the drone that infiltrates North Korea’s airspace, and we don’t care if it’s an individual or a civilian organization,” she added, using the abbreviation of North Korea’s official name.
Seoul initially denied official involvement in the January drone incursion, which officials said was the work of civilians.
But the Joint Military-Police Task Force announced earlier this week that it was investigating three active-duty soldiers and a spy agency worker to “get to the bottom of things.”
Seoul’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young expressed “deep regret” earlier this week.
Any government involvement in January’s drone incursion would run counter to Lee Myung-bak’s efforts to de-escalate relations with Pyongyang.
Chung has previously said the drone may have been the work of government workers still loyal to former hardline leader Yun Seok-yeol.
Kim Yo Jong said the solemn conciliatory remarks were “quite a wise act.”
-“Important Goals”-
Yang Moo-jin, former president of the University of North Korean Studies, told AFP that Kim Yo Jong’s statement showed that Pyongyang was “paying close attention to the latest developments in South Korea”.
North Korea’s military shot down a drone carrying “surveillance equipment” in early January, according to a statement published by the Korean Central News Agency.
Photos show the remains of a winged craft scattered on the ground next to a series of gray and blue components, said to include cameras.
A military spokesman said at the time that the drone stored footage of “important targets” including border areas.
Disgraced former South Korean president Yoon Seok-yeol was accused of using drones to drop propaganda leaflets over North Korea in 2024.
Lee Myung-bak has vowed to repair relations with North Korea by stamping out such provocations, even suggesting a rare apology may be necessary.
A U.N. Security Council committee recently approved exemptions to allow fresh food and medicine to flow into North Korea.
Analysts said that could kick-start efforts to induce Pyongyang to enter nuclear talks with U.S. President Donald Trump.
North Korea is preparing to hold a landmark party congress in late February.
The political showcase, usually held every five years, will showcase the country’s foreign policy, war planning and nuclear ambitions for the next five years.
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