Monday, February 16, 2026-North Korea’s powerful political figure, Kim Yo‑jong, has sharply reacted to South Korea’s recent expression of regret over alleged drone flights that crossed into North Korean airspace. While she called the apology from a South Korean government official “sensible behavior,” she made it clear that words alone don’t go far enough to address what Pyongyang views as a serious breach of its sovereignty.
Kim urged Seoul to take concrete actions to prevent any repeat of such incidents, underscoring the North’s expectation that regret must be backed by effective measures and accountability.
The tensions stem from reported drone incursions—South Korea has denied any military involvement and pointed to possible civilian operators in border areas, but the North sees any unauthorized flight as a violation that threatens peace. Kim Yo‑jong didn’t mince words, warning that further violations would “surely provoke a terrible response,” fueling concern about potential retaliation and heightening already fraught inter‑Korean ties.
Her comments come as South Korea’s government investigates the incidents, with authorities calling in suspects and examining how such flights occurred under current surveillance systems.
The exchange highlights the fragile state of relations between Seoul and Pyongyang as each side balances diplomacy with deterrence. South Korea, under President Lee Jae‑myung, has been working to repair ties and avoid escalation, even as it pledges to bolster monitoring to prevent future breaches.
North Korea’s messages, however, signal that Pyongyang expects more than diplomatic language—pressing Seoul for tangible steps to prove respect for its borders and cautioning that failure to do so could trigger a dangerous escalation on the Korean Peninsula.
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