North Korea has demanded a detailed explanation from South Korea over a drone that allegedly violated its airspace, according to a statement by Kim Yo Jong, deputy director of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea. The remarks were reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), DKNews.kz reports.
Kim Yo Jong commented on South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense, which earlier stated that it had no intention of provoking or antagonizing Pyongyang. She described Seoul’s statement as a “wise choice to prolong its own survival,” but stressed that it did not resolve the core issue.
“South Korea must provide a detailed explanation regarding the drone that crossed the southern border of our Republic,” KCNA quoted Kim as saying.
She criticized South Korea’s attempt to frame the incident as a “civilian matter,” accusing Seoul of downplaying the seriousness of the violation. According to Kim, the key issue is not whether the drone was military or civilian, but the fact that North Korea’s airspace was breached.
Kim Yo Jong claimed that video footage collected by the drone included sensitive locations, such as a uranium mine and its tailings facility, the site of the former Kaesong Industrial Complex, and several border guard posts inside North Korea.
“Regardless of whether the perpetrator was a civilian organization or an individual, the authorities — as the so-called guarantors of state security — cannot evade responsibility for this incident,” she said.
KCNA reported that the drone intrusion occurred on January 4. In response, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung ordered a thorough investigation, instructing joint military and police task forces to determine the circumstances of the incident.
South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense has denied any involvement, stating that no military drones were operated on the date cited by North Korea and that the drone in question does not match any model used by South Korean armed forces.
The incident has once again heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, where even limited border violations — particularly involving unmanned aerial vehicles — are often viewed as serious security threats.
