North Korea has accused South Korea of violating its airspace by flying drones across the border, promising serious consequences for what it termed “unpardonable hysteria.” This response comes after South Korean officials firmly denied the allegations. The exchange of accusations is likely to hinder ongoing efforts by South Korea’s liberal government to improve relations with the North.
On Sunday, North Korean military forces reported that they deployed special electronic warfare assets to bring down a South Korean drone that had entered the airspace over a border town. The drone was reportedly equipped with two cameras that recorded unspecified locations, according to a statement from the General Staff of the North Korean People’s Army.
South Korean officials stated that another drone had infiltrated North Korean airspace on September 27, 2023, only to crash following electronic attacks from the North. The North Korean statement claimed the drone also contained video data regarding significant objects within its territory.
“We strongly denounce the hooligans’ serial outrageous encroachment upon our sovereignty and undisguised provocative acts against us,” the North Korean military stated. The term ROK, used in the statement, refers to the Republic of Korea, South Korea’s official name. In response, South Korea’s Defense Ministry asserted that no drones had been operated on the specified dates and President Lee Jae Myung ordered a thorough investigation into the North’s claims.
Since assuming office in June 2022, Lee‘s administration has made significant efforts to reopen dialogue with North Korea and foster reconciliation. Yet, North Korea has consistently rebuffed these overtures. During a recent summit, Lee requested assistance from Chinese President Xi Jinping to mediate tensions between the two Koreas, with Xi advocating for patience.
Tensions between North and South Korea have escalated following the collapse of high-stakes nuclear negotiations in 2019 between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and then-U.S. President Donald Trump. The breakdown stemmed from disputes over international sanctions. Since then, North Korea has shifted its focus towards enhancing its nuclear arsenal and declared a hostile “two-state” system aimed at severing ties with the South.
Drone activity has become a contentious issue between the two nations. North Korea previously accused South Korea in October 2024 of flying drones over its capital, Pyongyang, to drop propaganda leaflets. The South Korean military could not confirm whether these claims were accurate, but tensions surged as North Korea threatened military retaliation. Fortunately, neither side took significant action, leading to a gradual easing of hostilities.
Conversely, South Korea has also accused North Korea of conducting drone flights over its territory. In December 2022, the South Korean military responded to what it described as North Korea’s first drone incursions in five years by firing warning shots, deploying fighter jets, and sending surveillance drones into North Korean airspace.
The ongoing exchanges highlight the fragile state of relations on the Korean Peninsula, with drone operations serving as a recurring flashpoint in the long-standing conflict between the two Koreas.
