SEOUL: Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, has accused the South Korean military of flying unmanned drones over Pyongyang, escalating tensions between the two nations. In her statement, she claimed these drones were used to drop anti-North Korean leaflets and held the United States responsible as well.
According to Yonhap News Agency, North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim Yo-jong described the South Korean military as the “main culprit” behind the recent drone activities over the North Korean capital. She alleged that these incidents occurred on October 3 and were followed by similar occurrences last Wednesday and Thursday. Despite her strong accusations, Kim Yo-jong did not provide evidence to substantiate her claims.
The North Korean Foreign Ministry had previously issued a warning, stating that continued drone flights carrying leaflets could lead to retaliatory measures. This announcement has added to the already strained relations between North and South Korea.
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outh Korea’s Defense Minister, Kim Yong-hyun, responded to these allegations by stating that there was no confirmation of the North’s claims. The South Korean Defense Ministry also criticized North Korea for threatening force and warning of potential catastrophes without verifying the origins of the drone flights.
Kim Yo-jong’s comments also implicated Washington, suggesting that the United States bears ultimate responsibility, likening South Korea to “dogs” controlled by their “master.”
This development follows previous statements by Kim Yo-jong, where she suggested that South Korean civilian activist groups might be behind the drone operations. She criticized the South Korean military for not adequately monitoring these groups, which she claimed were freely crossing the border via drones.