On October 12, 2024, Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, issued a stark warning regarding South Korean drones allegedly flying over Pyongyang. This statement comes in response to claims by North Korea's Foreign Ministry that such drones were detected on multiple occasions earlier this month.
Kim accused South Korea of shirking responsibility and stated that North Korean forces would prepare 'all means of attack' if these incursions continue. She emphasized that the presence of South Korean drones would lead to a 'terrible calamity' for the South.
The situation reflects escalating tensions between the two Koreas, exacerbated by North Korea's missile tests and South Korea's military exercises with the United States. Analysts suggest that North Korea may be attempting to exert pressure on Seoul and Washington ahead of the upcoming U.S. presidential election, with the potential for significant provocations, including nuclear tests.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol indicated that North Korea's actions could be a strategy to compel the U.S. to recognize it as a nuclear power, seeking concessions from a position of strength.
This meeting of rhetoric highlights the fragile state of inter-Korean relations, with both sides engaging in psychological warfare and military posturing.