North Korea accused South Korea of violating its sovereignty through alleged drone incursions, warning that Seoul should be prepared to “pay a high price” for what it labeled a provocative act. The claims, made on Saturday, assert that South Korean drones entered North Korean airspace in September 2023 and earlier this week. In response, South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense rejected the accusations, stating that its military did not operate any drones on the dates specified by North Korea.
The General Staff of the Korean People’s Army issued a statement condemning South Korea as “the most hostile” enemy, claiming that its actions contradict its attempts to engage in dialogue with Pyongyang. The statement, released via the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), emphasized that South Korea would face consequences for what it termed an infringement on the sovereignty of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
On January 4, 2024, North Korea’s military reported tracking a drone over South Korea’s Ganghwa County, Incheon, and subsequently downing it using electronic warfare measures. According to KCNA, this drone had been operating after crossing into North Korean airspace. The North also mentioned a separate incident on September 27, 2023, where a South Korean drone allegedly fell into Jangphung County, Kaesong, after being targeted by North Korean electronic systems.
The spokesperson for the North Korean military claimed that the downed drone was equipped with surveillance technology, stating it was intended to monitor key North Korean sites over a distance of 156 kilometers for more than three hours. North Korea released images of drone debris, including supposed recordings made during the flights.
In its statements, North Korea drew a controversial parallel between South Korea and Ukraine, describing the South as a “perfect copy of Kiev’s lunatics.” This analogy highlights the ongoing tensions, as North Korea accused the South of orchestrating drone infiltrations that bypassed its radar systems designed for detecting low-altitude targets.
In response to North Korea’s claims, South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back firmly rejected the allegations, asserting that the drones depicted in the images do not match any models in South Korea’s military inventory. The South Korean defense ministry has initiated a thorough investigation into the matter, with President Lee Jae Myung ordering relevant agencies to verify the claims.
Experts have weighed in on the situation, suggesting that the drones shown by North Korea do not appear to be military-grade and may consist of inexpensive components unsuitable for military operations. Previous incidents have seen North Korea threaten retaliation over similar drone activities, particularly in October 2024, when it reported detecting South Korean drones carrying anti-North Korea propaganda over Pyongyang.
The ongoing tensions between the two Koreas come as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has characterized inter-Korean relations as those between “two states hostile to each other.” Since President Lee’s administration began in June 2023, efforts have been made to improve ties and resume dialogue with North Korea. Analysts believe that North Korea is solidifying its hard-line stance ahead of a key party congress scheduled for January or February 2024, where it is expected to formalize its policies on diplomacy and military strategy.
Researcher Hong Min from the Korea Institute for National Unification noted that North Korea may seek to enshrine its view of South Korea as a hostile entity in its party regulations, potentially leading to constitutional changes during a parliamentary meeting in the first half of the year. As the situation unfolds, the international community will be closely monitoring developments on the Korean Peninsula.
