North Korea’s military has accused South Korea of flying drones across the inter-Korean border this week, warning that Seoul will face consequences for what Pyongyang described as “unpardonable hysteria.” The statement, released on Saturday, escalates tensions at a time when South Korea’s liberal government has been seeking to restore dialogue and cooperation with its northern neighbor.

According to North Korea’s Korean People’s Army (KPA), its forces used special electronic warfare systems on Sunday to bring down a South Korean drone over a border town. The drone reportedly carried two cameras capturing unspecified areas, and Pyongyang claimed another drone flown on September 27 was similarly neutralized after entering its airspace. Authorities asserted the drones contained video data on key installations.

“The ROK military warmongers will be surely forced to pay a dear price for their unpardonable hysteria,” the North Korean statement said. The regime condemned what it called a “serial outrageous encroachment” on its sovereignty, highlighting the provocative nature of the alleged drone operations. ROK is the official abbreviation for the Republic of Korea.

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South Korea’s Defense Ministry quickly denied the allegations, asserting it did not operate drones during the times specified and does not even possess the types of drones claimed by North Korea. Senior ministry official Kim Hong-Cheol added that authorities would investigate whether civilians might have flown drones across the border. Seoul emphasized its intent to avoid provocations and maintain trust-building efforts with the North.

Since taking office in June, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has sought to reopen talks and improve relations with North Korea. Despite these overtures, Pyongyang has consistently rebuffed engagement, focusing instead on developing nuclear capabilities and declaring a hostile “two-state” system on the peninsula. President Lee recently called on Chinese President Xi Jinping to mediate tensions between the Koreas, with Xi urging patience.

Drone incidents have long fueled animosity between the two nations. In October 2024, North Korea accused South Korea of flying drones over Pyongyang to drop propaganda leaflets, while Seoul has occasionally reported North Korean drone flights across its territory. Previous escalations saw warning shots and the deployment of fighter jets and surveillance drones, though neither side has engaged in direct military action following such claims.

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