Seoul: South Korea has issued a stark warning to North Korea, stating that any harm inflicted upon its citizens by the North would lead to the end of the North Korean regime. This warning follows threats from North Korea of a “horrible disaster” in response to alleged South Korean drone flights over Pyongyang.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the South Korean defense ministry’s statement came after Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, threatened retaliation in state media. This escalation follows claims that South Korea had sent drones over Pyongyang three times in the current month. The South Korean defense ministry responded robustly, asserting, “We clearly warn that if North Korea inflicts harm on the safety of our people, that day will be the end of the North Korean regime.”
Kim Yo-jong’s commentary also criticized South Korea for what she described as provocative and petty actions, including sending balloons filled with trash across the border. Despite these accusatio
ns, she warned of a strong retaliatory action if anti-Pyongyang materials continued to be flown into North Korea, stating that an attack could happen at any time without prior notice.
The tension has been compounded by the People Power Party’s (PPP) remarks, reinforcing that South Korea’s security remains robust against North Korea’s “irrational and reckless provocations.” The PPP highlighted the strong military capabilities of South Korea, supported by its alliance with the United States.
Furthermore, the North’s recent actions of floating trash-filled balloons into South Korea were described by the South’s defense ministry as an attempt by the North to shift blame and distract from its domestic failures, including unsuccessful military satellite launches. The ministry accused North Korea of using these tactics to create internal conflict within South Korea.
This ongoing conflict has also seen accusations from North Korea claiming multiple intrusions of South Korean drones into its airspace, which the Sou
th Korean military has neither confirmed nor denied. This ambiguity led Kim Yo-jong to criticize the South Korean military’s stance, suggesting an implicit admission of guilt.
The situation remains tense as both nations continue to engage in a war of words and propaganda, with potential consequences that could escalate beyond mere rhetoric.