Amid escalating tensions over drones allegedly flying over North Korea, Pyongyang has ordered its artillery units near the border to be prepared for potential conflict. The North Korean state news agency KCNA reported on Sunday that the country’s defense ministry instructed its military to be ready for all possible scenarios, including direct confrontations with South Korea.
The tension stems from accusations by North Korea that drones have crossed into its territory from the South, which it views as a provocation requiring a retaliatory response. The situation intensified on Friday when North Korea claimed that South Korean drones had flown over Pyongyang during the night over the past two weeks, prompting warnings from Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. She stated that if the South Korean military cannot properly identify the source of these drones, the responsibility for any future consequences would rest with them. She also threatened South Korea with a “horrible disaster” if the issue continues.
The situation has been further aggravated by the activities of some defectors and activists in South Korea, who send aid parcels and drop leaflets criticizing Kim Jong Un’s regime into North Korea via drones and balloons. North Korea, in retaliation, has been floating balloons filled with trash into South Korea.
North Korea’s defense ministry spokesperson warned that the country anticipates further drone incursions over its capital and has heightened its military readiness in response. With both sides escalating rhetoric and accusations, the potential for further conflict remains high as tensions continue to simmer on the Korean Peninsula.
Sources By Agencies
