North Korea Alleges South Korean Drone Incursion Over Pyongyang, South Korea Dismisses Claims

SEOUL: North Korea asserted on Monday that a South Korean drone that crashed in Pyongyang had taken off from a South Korean border island, accusing the South Korean military of orchestrating drone incursions. South Korea's military dismissed the claims, labeling them as "unilateral" and not worthy of verification or response. According to Yonhap News Agency, North Korea previously claimed that South Korean drones carrying anti-North Korea propaganda leaflets were observed over Pyongyang on three occasions this month. The North threatened retaliation if such flights were to continue. North Korea's defense ministry, upon concluding its investigation into the drone incidents, reported analyzing the flight control data from the remains of the drone that intruded on October 8. The North alleged that the drone departed from Baengnyeong Island in the Yellow Sea at 11:25 p.m. on October 8, entering North Korean airspace and scattering propaganda over key locations in Pyongyang in the early hours of October 9. The K orean Central News Agency (KCNA) published an illustration depicting the drone's flight path. The North claimed that the drone's flight logs, totaling 238, predominantly showed operations within South Korean territory, except for the incursion on October 8. It also asserted that the drone contained data for distributing propaganda over Pyongyang. A North Korean defense ministry spokesperson condemned the South Korean military, accusing it of evading responsibility for the incursion. North Korea warned of severe consequences if South Korea continued to violate its sovereignty. South Korea's military, unable to verify the North's claims, cautioned that any harm to South Koreans by the North would result in "the end of its regime." The South's Joint Chiefs of Staff reiterated their stance, condemning North Korea's actions as "shameless" and recalling past incidents of North Korean drones entering South Korean airspace. JCS spokesperson Col. Lee Sung-jun indicated there were no further details on potential civ ilian involvement in the drone operations. Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, criticized South Korea's response to the drone allegations, suggesting a hypothetical scenario involving a drone over Seoul. Yang Moo-jin of the University of North Korean Studies speculated that North Korea might retaliate by flying drones over strategic South Korean sites. Recently, North Korean balloons carrying critical leaflets about South Korea's President Yoon and the first lady landed in the presidential compound. The South Korean military pledged to respond to any future drone incursions by the North.