North Korea accuses South Korea of ​​flying drones over Pyongyang and threatens retaliation if it happens again

North Korea has accused South Korea of ​​sending drones across the border to fly over the North’s capital, Pyongyang, calling the move a political and military provocation that requires retaliatory measures.

North Korea’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday local time that South Korean drones were detected on Oct. 3, as well as on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

The ministry accused the South of violating North Korea’s “sacred” sovereignty and threatening its security.

He said his forces would prepare “all means of attack” and respond without warning if any more South Korean drones are detected on its territory, while urging Seoul to halt the flights.

“This irresponsible and dangerous provocation that could lead to armed conflict and even war between the two sides should be stopped immediately,” the ministry said.

South Korea’s military said it had not flown any drones into North Korea, Yonhap news agency reported.

However, some South Korean activists occasionally fly balloons into the North carrying aid packages and leaflets critical of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The practice has seen North Korea send thousands of balloons filled with trash over the border this year, some of which have landed in the capital, Seoul.

Tensions between the rivals have increased in recent months.

Kim Jong Un has increased weapons testing and promises to increase the country’s stockpile of nuclear weapons.

The South has responded by stepping up its joint military exercises with the United States.

North Korea this week said it will permanently block its border with its southern neighbor and build front-line defense structures to deal with “confrontational hysteria” by South Korean and US forces.

The two Koreas are still technically at war after their 1950-53 war ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty, and the North has long denounced defectors as “human scum.”

ABC/Cables