Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have flared again after North Korea issued a warning of severe retaliation if South Korean drones are detected crossing the border again, while the Seoul government is investigating the facts.
The warning came in a statement from Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, released by Pyongyang's official news agency KCNA, stating that violations of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea’s sovereignty will lead to harsh retaliation.
She said that if such provocations occur again, North Korea will respond decisively, adding that Pyongyang will disregard entirely whoever the perpetrators are—be they state agencies, individuals, or civilian organizations.
North Korea claims to have shot down a spy drone in early January, releasing images of the wreckage which included photographic equipment and data recording key targets, including border areas.
The Seoul government initially denied official involvement, suggesting it could be actions by civilian groups. However, South Korea’s joint military-police task force announced this week that it is investigating three active-duty soldiers and one intelligence officer to verify the facts in detail.
Unification Minister Chung Dong Young expressed deep regret over the incident and reiterated the government's desire to reduce tensions with Pyongyang.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who took office last year, is attempting to restore relations with North Korea, criticizing former hardline leader Yoon Suk Yeol for having used drones to drop anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets in 2024.
Analysts view Kim Yo Jong’s statement as indicating that Pyongyang is closely monitoring South Korea’s movements, especially amid the fragile geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific region.
This tension arises ahead of North Korea’s significant party meeting at the end of February, held roughly every five years to set foreign policy direction, military strategy, and nuclear plans for the next five years.
Meanwhile, the UN Security Council’s sanctions committee has approved exemptions to allow increased food and medical supplies into North Korea. Some analysts see this move as paving the way for efforts to bring North Korea back to nuclear negotiations with US President Donald Trump in the future.
:Sourcechannelnewsasia
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