North Korea says it downed South Korean drone, Seoul denies incursion – Firstpost

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula flared after North Korea accused South Korea of flying drones across the heavily fortified border, an allegation Seoul swiftly rejected, as prospects for renewed dialogue between the rivals appeared to dim further.

North Korea’s military remarked its forces used special electronic warfare assets on Sunday to bring down a South Korean drone over a border town inside North Korea. The drone was equipped with two cameras that filmed unspecified areas, according to a statement from the General Staff of the Korean People’s Army carried by state media.

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The statement further alleged that South Korea infiltrated another drone into North Korean airspace on September 27, which later crashed after being struck electronically. Authorities claimed that drone also carried video data of major objects in North Korea.

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“We strongly denounce the hooligans’ serial outrageous encroachment upon our sovereignty and undisguised provocative acts against us,” the statement declared. “The ROK military warmongers will be surely forced to pay a dear charge for their unpardonable hysteria.”

The ROK is the abbreviated form of the Republic of Korea, South Korea’s official name.

Seoul rejects claims, cites investigation

South Korea’s Defence Ministry declared it did not operate drones during the times specified by North Korea and does not possess the types of drones described in the accusations.

Senior ministry official Kim Hong-Cheol mentioned authorities would investigate whether civilians were responsible for flying the drones found in North Korea. He added that South Korea has no intention of provoking the North and will continue efforts to build trust between the two Koreas.

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Diplomatic push faces resistance

Since taking office in June, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has sought to reopen talks with North Korea and mend ties. However, Pyongyang has consistently rebuffed his overtures.

Lee declared on Wednesday that he asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to act as a mediator to ease animosities during their recent summit, and Xi urged patience.

North Korea has avoided talks with South Korea and the United States since leader Kim Jong Un’s nuclear diplomacy with US President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019 over disagreements on US-led sanctions. Since then, Pyongyang has focused on strengthening its nuclear arsenal and declared a hostile “two-state” system on the peninsula to end relations with Seoul.

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Drones a recurring source of friction

Drone activity has repeatedly fuelled tensions between the two Koreas, with each side accusing the other of airspace violations in recent years.

In October 2024, North Korea accused South Korea of flying drones over Pyongyang on three occasions to drop propaganda leaflets, a claim South Korea’s military remarked it could not confirm. Although tensions rose sharply at the time, neither side took major action, and the situation gradually eased.

South Korea has also accused North Korea of sending drones into its territory. In December 2022, Seoul said it fired warning shots, scrambled fighter jets and flew surveillance drones over North Korea after what it described as the North’s first drone crossings in five years.

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