Kim Yo-jong Photo: Korean Central News Agency/AP
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s sister, Kim Yo-jong, has accused South Korea of deliberately avoiding responsibility for alleged flights of its drones over Pyongyang and warned of “dire consequences” if such incidents occur again. This was reported by ABC News, citing the Associated Press (AP).
Accusations from Pyongyang
Kim Yo-jong’s statement comes a day after the North Korean Foreign Ministry said that several South Korean drones carrying anti-government propaganda leaflets were spotted in the night skies over Pyongyang on 3 October, and again on Wednesday and Thursday of this week. In response, Pyongyang threatened to prepare “all means of attack” capable of destroying any South Korean facilities and promised to respond without warning if the drones were spotted again.
Kim Yo-jong said that if the South Korean military allowed citizens to use drones, “this is tantamount to deliberate complicity and provocation”, as such actions significantly increase the risk of armed conflict.
Warning of a possible disaster
“If a South Korean drone reappears in the skies over our capital, it will certainly lead to a terrible disaster. Personally, I hope this does not happen,” she added.
The South Korean army and government have not yet issued any official response to these comments. South Korea’s defence minister initially denied the allegations, but later the military said it could not confirm the accuracy of the North’s claims.
Escalating tensions between the two countries
In recent months, tensions between the Koreas have reached their highest level in recent years due to the intensification of missile tests by North Korea and joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States. In addition, psychological warfare, similar to the Cold War, has contributed to the rise in tensions.
Since May of this year, North Korea has been sending thousands of balloons containing waste, paper and garbage in response to South Korean propaganda campaigns. In response, South Korea has been broadcasting propaganda and K-pop through loudspeakers at the border.
Fenian reacts sharply to any criticism from abroad, especially those directed against the Kim Jong-un regime. Experts believe that with the US elections approaching, Pyongyang may try to increase pressure on Seoul and Washington to get itself recognised as a nuclear power and use it to make economic and security concessions.
