North Korea has protested what it claims are drone infiltrations from South Korea, accusing its southern neighbor of sending unmanned aerial vehicles to scatter anti-regime leaflets over Pyongyang.
The incidents occurred on October 3 and 9, with the leaflet drop over the North Korean capital taking place separately on October 10, according to a statement from North Korea’s state media, KCNA.
North Korea’s foreign ministry denounced the leaflet drop, stating that drones from the South were flown over Pyongyang at night, calling the action a provocation that could lead to retaliatory measures. “The ROK (South Korea) should immediately stop such irresponsible and dangerous provocation that may cause an armed conflict and lead to a war between the two sides,” the ministry was quoted as saying.
KCNA also released images purporting to show a triangular drone dropping bundles of leaflets over the capital. One image, which the state news agency labeled as a “scattered leaflet cloud,” depicted a swarm of small objects falling from the sky. Among the leaflets were black, yellow, and white pamphlets comparing the economic situation in South Korea to the impoverished conditions in the North, with some directly criticizing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff responded to the accusations, stating, “We cannot confirm the truth of North Korea’s claims,” but added, “All responsibility for the recent series of events lies with Pyongyang.” The South’s military did not confirm whether the drones originated from its territory, but it did reference North Korea’s own long-standing practice of sending balloons filled with trash into South Korean airspace as part of its own propaganda efforts.
While it remains unclear who was responsible for the drone-leaflet drop, experts have suggested that the technology used—a 3D-printed leaflet dispenser—could point to South Korean activist groups rather than a state-sanctioned military operation. These activist groups have long been engaged in sending leaflets into the North, criticizing the regime and highlighting its economic failures.
Claimed imagery over recovered leaflet dispenser 3D show 3D printed construction, which could be more indicative of activist group origin.https://t.co/uQqaII0xjf pic.twitter.com/ofMyHy8l76
— Joseph Dempsey (@JosephHDempsey) October 11, 2024
The timing of the incident is significant, coming at a moment of heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Both North and South Korea have been involved in a series of provocative actions, including military exercises and the use of surveillance technology. The use of drones for leaflet drops could further escalate tensions between the two nations.