South Korea’s military declared on Monday that it is “fully prepared” to respond to any provocations, following North Korea’s orders for its border troops to be ready to open fire in an intensifying standoff over alleged drone flights to Pyongyang.
North Korea has accused Seoul of sending drones over its capital to drop propaganda leaflets filled with “inflammatory rumors and rubbish.”
On Sunday, Pyongyang warned that further drone incursions would be treated as “a declaration of war.”
While Seoul has denied involvement, suggesting that activist groups could be behind the flights, North Korea remains adamant that the South’s military is responsible.
On Sunday, the North ordered eight artillery brigades already on high alert “to be fully prepared to open fire” and reinforced air surveillance posts in Pyongyang.
“Our military is closely monitoring the situation and remains fully ready to counter any provocations from the North,” said Lee Seong-joon, spokesman for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), during a press briefing.
Pyongyang claims that drones carrying propaganda have breached its airspace three times in recent days. Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, issued a stern warning of a “horrible disaster” if the flights continue.
In a Monday statement, Kim Yo Jong condemned the drone flights as “an unforgivable, malicious challenge to our state” and demanded that South Korea’s military take action to prevent further violations of North Korean airspace.
The JCS has neither confirmed nor denied any involvement in the alleged drone activity, dismissing North Korea’s accusations as “shameless.”
“The North can’t even verify the origin of the drone over Pyongyang, yet it blames the South, all while remaining silent about sending drones southward on ten occasions,” said JCS spokesman Lee, adding that the claims are “baseless.”
Seoul’s unification ministry suggested that North Korea may be using the drone issue to strengthen internal unity or create anxiety in South Korean society.
Ministry spokesperson Koo Byoung-sam noted that Pyongyang could be looking for a pretext “to stage provocations or sow confusion.”