North Korea has claimed that it discovered the remains of a South Korean drone in the capital, Pyongyang, further escalating tensions between the two Koreas. The discovery, announced by North Korea's state news agency KCNA on Saturday, has led to accusations that the South was behind a recent series of drone infiltrations over the North's skies-a charge that South Korea has neither confirmed nor denied.
According to KCNA, the drone was found in Pyongyang on October 13 and was allegedly carrying equipment used for propaganda purposes. "In light of the drone's shape, the presumptive period of flight, and the leaflet-scattering box fixed to the underpart of the drone's fuselage, it is quite likely that the drone is the one which scattered leaflets over the center of Pyongyang Municipality. But the conclusion has not yet been drawn," the agency reported.
North Korea's Defense Ministry claimed that South Korea had flown drones over Pyongyang three times this month, scattering anti-regime leaflets. The North asserted that the alleged leaflet-dropping was intended to undermine Kim Jong Un's leadership and incite unrest. KCNA warned that any further violations of its airspace would be considered a "declaration of war" and would result in "an immediate retaliatory attack."
North Korea claims to have found the drone that entered DPRK airspace.
And it looks a lot like this South Korean military drone (pictured to the right). https://t.co/EN1VC686hP pic.twitter.com/wc4rATgT0g — Chad O'Carroll (@chadocl) October 18, 2024
South Korea's government has remained tight-lipped on the allegations. "North Korea's one-sided claims are not worth verifying, nor do they merit a response," the South's defense ministry said in a statement. A government spokesperson further suggested that commenting on the North's claims would only serve to escalate an already tense situation. "To respond would mean being drawn into a ploy," the spokesperson said.
The two Koreas have been engaged in a war of words and psychological operations in recent months, with both sides accusing the other of violating their sovereignty. Since May, North Korea has sent balloons carrying paper waste and other trash across the border to the South, provoking South Korea to restart its own propaganda campaign, including broadcasting anti-regime messages and K-pop music from loudspeakers at the border-tactics that are known to greatly anger Pyongyang.
The drone discovery adds yet another layer to the escalating tension between the two neighbors. KCNA also released images of the wreckage, which showed a V-shaped drone, suggesting that it was similar to those previously seen in South Korean military parades. "The aircraft is similar to the type of drone that appeared in a South Korean military parade earlier in October," KCNA stated, indicating that the North believes the drone was deployed by the South's military.
The discovery has prompted threats from North Korea's top leadership. "If a violation of the DPRK's territorial ground, air, and waters by ROK's military means is discovered and confirmed again, it will be regarded as a grave military provocation against the sovereignty of the DPRK and a declaration of war," KCNA stated. DPRK is the acronym for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name, while ROK stands for the Republic of Korea, South Korea's formal title.
South Korea's defense minister initially denied the North's accusations, but the government has since shifted to a more cautious response, stating that it "could not confirm" the authenticity of the North's claims. This reluctance to engage in a direct rebuttal may reflect an attempt to prevent an escalation that could lead to military confrontation.
