North Korea has accused South Korea of flying drones across its heavily fortified border, raising tensions on the Korean Peninsula and threatening consequences for what Pyongyang calls “unpardonable hysteria.”
North Korea’s military said on Sunday it used special electronic warfare systems to bring down a drone flying over a border town on January 4. The unmanned aircraft, it claimed, was equipped with two cameras and had filmed unspecified locations inside North Korea. North Korean officials added that another drone had entered North Korean airspace on September 27 before being forced down by similar electronic attacks.
In a strongly worded statement, Pyongyang denounced the alleged flights as a serious breach of its sovereignty and “provocative acts” by what it called “ROK military warmongers,” using the Republic of Korea’s official name for South Korea. North Korea warned that Seoul would have to “pay a high price” for these incursions.
South Korea swiftly rejected the accusations. Its Defense Ministry said no drones operated by the South Korean military flew on the dates cited by North Korea. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu‑back said the drone images presented by Pyongyang did not match models used by South Korean forces. President Lee Jae Myung has ordered a full investigation into the claims.
The latest claims come as relations between the two Koreas remain strained. Since entering office in June, South Korea’s liberal government under President Lee has made diplomatic overtures to Pyongyang to restore dialogue. However, North Korea has largely rebuffed these efforts, maintaining a hardline stance.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have been heightened by military posturing and past accusations of drone flights by both sides. North Korea has previously accused South Korea of flying drones over its capital in October 2024 in alleged propaganda missions, though Seoul denied involvement at the time.
Drone incidents have become a point of animosity. While Pyongyang claims Seoul uses unmanned aerial vehicles for surveillance and psychological pressure, South Korea has also accused North Korea of flying drones into its airspace in recent years.
The dispute over drones adds to a broader backdrop of mistrust. North Korea has shunned dialogue with Seoul and Washington since its high-stakes nuclear diplomacy with the United States collapsed in 2019. Pyongyang has since focused on advancing its weapons programs and adopted a more hostile “two-state” stance toward the South.
Efforts by South Korea to engage China as a mediator in easing tensions have seen limited success. President Lee asked Chinese President Xi Jinping for help during a recent summit, with Xi urging patience.
Analysts say the renewed drone accusations are likely to complicate any future diplomatic dialogue. As both Koreas continue to trade claims and denials over drone activity, military and political tensions risk further escalation if not managed carefully.
This development comes amid a range of recent provocations, including North Korea’s ballistic missile tests and other actions relating to global security issues, underscoring ongoing instability in regional relations.
