North Korea accused South Korea on Oct. 11 of sending drones over Pyongyang to drop leaflets, threatening immediate action if such incursions continue. In response, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff denied sending drones to the North.
In a statement via the state-run Korean Central News Agency, North Korea’s foreign ministry alleged that after incursions on Oct. 3, 9, and 10, South Korea targeted central Pyongyang at night, carrying out “an outrageous act” by scattering anti-government leaflets. They labeled this as “a serious political and military provocation” from “the most hostile rogue state, South Korea,” asserting that it violates their sovereignty and justifies self-defense measures.
North Korea further added that its Ministry of National Defense and military branches are on high alert in response to the recent tensions, warning, “All attack capabilities of North Korea, aimed at disrupting South Korea’s military structure near the southern border, will be ready to act at any moment.” Concluding their statement with a stern warning, North Korea declared, “This is the final ultimatum to South Korea. If they provoke us again by sending drones into our airspace, there will be no further warnings, and we will take immediate action.”
Along with the statement, North Korea released photos purportedly showing drones and leaflets captured over Pyongyang. The Joint Chiefs of Staff reiterated that the South Korean military has not sent any drones to North Korea and emphasized the need to investigate whether any private groups may be involved. Speculation suggests that a civilian organization advocating for North Korean freedom might have been behind the leaflets. The Fighters for a Free North Korea previously claimed to have sent 10,000 anti-North Korean leaflets to Pyongyang via drone in May 2020. A military expert noted that “the photos released by North Korea appear to show a propeller drone, which may have been launched from a fishing vessel at sea to evade South Korea’s air defense systems.”
