SEOUL, January 11 (AJP) -Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, on Sunday reiterated that it was “clear” a drone from South Korea violated North Korean airspace and demanded a detailed explanation from Seoul.
In a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency, Kim said “the essence of the situation is not whether the actor is the military or a civilian,” arguing that South Korean authorities cannot evade responsibility for what she described as a violation of sovereignty.
Kim serves as the Deputy Department Director of the Publicity and Information Department of the Workers' Party of Korea.
She said the drone had an intelligence-gathering purpose, claiming it carried recorded images of a uranium mine and North Korean border posts.
At the same time, Kim approved of the prompt response from the South Korea’s Defense Ministry, saying she personally viewed it as “a wise choice for survival” that Seoul declared it had no intention of provoking or stimulating North Korea.
At the same time, she warned that if South Korea “chooses provocation” again, it would face a “terrible situation” it could not handle.
North Korea has claimed that South Korean drones infiltrated its territory on Jan. 4 and again in September last year. South Korea’s Defense Ministry has denied operating drones on those dates and said it would thoroughly investigate whether civilian drones were involved.
On Saturday, President Lee Jae Myung presiding the National Security Council meeting ordered the formation of a joint military-police investigative team to examine the possibility that civilians flew the drones. If confirmed, such actions would constitute a serious crime threatening peace on the Korean Peninsula and national security, the presidential office said.
The Defense Ministry reiterated that the drones were not part of military operations and pledged a comprehensive probe into possible civilian involvement, as Seoul seeks to prevent further escalation amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
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