North Korea has ‘clear evidence’ South behind drone provocation

Pyongyang has proof that Seoul was behind the launch of several drones over North Korea earlier this month, Kim Yo Jong, a senior official and the sister of leader Kim Jong Un, has claimed. 

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) claimed last Friday that there had been at least three incidents of late – on October 3, 9 and 10 – when UAVs dropped propaganda leaflets over the North Korean capital.

On Monday, the country’s military blew up sections of roads leading to South Korea, effectively disconnecting the two countries. Pyongyang said the action was in response to what it has described as Seoul’s provocations.   

South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun stated that he could neither confirm nor deny the North’s allegation.   

In a press statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Tuesday, Kim Yo Jong said: “We secured clear evidence that the ROK military gangsters are the main culprit of the hostile provocation of violating the sovereignty of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea by intruding into the sky over its capital city.”   

She vowed that the “provocateurs will have to pay a dear price.” 

During a security meeting on Monday, Kim Jong Un ordered his country’s military to step up deterrence measures in the face of the supposed aerial violations by the South, as reported by KCNA.

Over the weekend, North Korea’s Defense Ministry stated that Seoul was likely to attempt more drone infiltrations in the near future. In light of this, observation posts have been reinforced in Pyongyang.  

A spokesperson for the ministry characterized the drone launches as an “undeniable war provocation,” stressing that the type of UAV used cannot be operated by civilian enthusiasts. According to the statement, such an aircraft requires a launcher or a runway.  

The statement warned that a “war may break out any moment” on the Korean peninsula due the South Korean military’s “reckless” actions.  

The DPRK military pointed out that it had put artillery units along the border with the South on high alert.  

Commenting on the latest escalation between Seoul and Pyongyang, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Monday denounced the “unprecedented drone attack” on Pyongyang.  

“Such actions on the part of Seoul cannot be viewed as anything but a gross encroachment on the DPRK’s sovereignty,” the diplomat said. She also urged South Korea to heed the North’s warnings.