Monday, January 12, 2026- North Korea’s military has publicly accused South Korea of flying drones across their heavily fortified border, claiming that unmanned aircraft entered its airspace earlier this month and in September of last year.
Pyongyang says it used electronic warfare systems to bring down a drone equipped with cameras that allegedly filmed sensitive areas near the border town of Kaesong, and it has released images of what it says are drone wreckage and footage captured by the devices. North Korean state media warned that Seoul will face consequences for what it called “unpardonable hysteria” and a serious breach of its sovereignty.
Seoul has firmly denied the accusations, with South Korea’s Defense Ministry saying it did not operate drones on the dates cited and does not even possess the specific types of drones North Korea claimed were used.
President Lee Jae Myung has ordered a swift investigation by military and police authorities to determine whether civilians may have flown the drones, noting that unauthorized drone incursions would be a grave crime threatening peace on the Korean Peninsula if confirmed. South Korea also reiterated its commitment to de‑escalation and building trust, even as Pyongyang remains unresponsive to diplomatic overtures.
The accusations mark a fresh escalation in long‑standing tensions between the two Koreas, undermining efforts by Seoul’s liberal government to restart dialogue with Pyongyang. North Korea’s statements have been unusually forceful, with senior officials demanding detailed explanations and denouncing South Korea’s actions as hostile provocations.
The disputed drone incidents further complicate an already delicate security environment on the peninsula, where both sides have accused each other of aerial incursions and other provocations in recent years.
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