• North Korea claims South Korean drones violated its airspace, threatening consequences.
• South Korea denies the allegations, asserting no military involvement in drone flights.
• Kim Yo Jong of North Korea calls for a thorough investigation by Seoul into the drone incidents.

North Korea has accused South Korea of flying drones into its airspace, asserting that these incursions constitute serial provocation and threatening that Seoul would "pay a dear price" for its actions. These claims were made amidst ongoing discussions of restoring communication by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who has recently called for transparency in the matter and ordered a national security meeting to address it, according to Channel News Asia, South China Morning Post, and India Times.

North Korea's military claimed that a drone, which it alleges was carrying surveillance equipment, was shot down after crossing into their territory from the South, providing images that purportedly show the wreckage along with aerial footage. South Korea's Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back has rejected these allegations, stating that the models depicted do not match those operated by the military, and proposed a joint investigation to determine whether civilians were involved, as cited by Channel News Asia, Reuters, and India Times.

Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has urged South Korea to conduct a thorough investigation into the drone incidents, emphasizing the need for accountability regardless of whether the drones were operated by the military or civilians. She commended Seoul for its official stance but cautioned that any provocations would lead to dire consequences, reinforcing the tension between the two Koreas, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

In 2024, there was a controversy involving alleged drone flights into North Korea led by then-President Yoon Suk Yeol, which has led to investigations and legal challenges surrounding military actions against North Korea. Analysts suggest that North Korea's renewed accusations could be a strategic move to portray South Korea as a permanent enemy and undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts for reconciliation, as discussed in detail by South China Morning Post, India Times, and Channel News Asia.