North Korea has accused South Korea of flying drones to its capital, Pyongyang, to drop anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets. The North Korean Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Friday claiming that South Korean drones were detected in the night skies of Pyongyang on multiple occasions, most recently on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.
The ministry condemned South Korea for violating North Korea's sovereignty and security, warning that its forces are prepared to respond with force if such drone flights occur again. The statement emphasized that North Korea will not hesitate to take action without warning if South Korean drones are detected in its territory.
South Korea's government and military have not yet responded to North Korea's accusations.
Tensions between the two Koreas have been escalating in recent months, with North Korea conducting weapons tests and making threats while South Korea has been strengthening its military cooperation with the United States.
In addition to the drone incidents, North Korea has been engaging in a psychological warfare campaign by sending balloons carrying waste and trash to South Korea since May. This campaign has further strained relations between the two nations.
On Wednesday, North Korea announced plans to permanently block its border with South Korea and fortify its front-line defense structures in response to what it called 'confrontational hysteria' by South Korean and U.S. forces. The North Korean military stated that it will cut off roads and railways connecting the two countries and strengthen defense measures on its side of the border.
North Korea described these actions as self-defensive measures aimed at preventing war and safeguarding the country's security. The regime accused its rivals of escalating tensions through military exercises, the deployment of U.S. strategic assets, and aggressive rhetoric.