Kim Yo‑jong Demands Apology as Seoul Denies Drone Incursions and Orders Joint Probe
Updated (4 articles)
North Korea alleges two cross‑border drone flights Pyongyang says unmanned aircraft equipped with surveillance gear entered its airspace in September 2025 and again on January 4, 2026, targeting a uranium‑related site near Kaesong and border guard posts[1][3]. The regime frames the events as blatant violations of its sovereignty and cites electronic counter‑measures that downed the drones[4]. These claims underpin the latest diplomatic flare‑up between the two Koreas.
Kim Yo‑jong issues formal apology demand and threat In a KCNA‑released statement, Kim Yo‑jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong‑un, ordered Seoul to acknowledge responsibility, issue a public apology, and adopt measures to prevent recurrence[1][2]. She warned that any further provocation would force South Korea to “pay a price it cannot handle,” hinting at retaliation beyond proportional responses[1]. The demand is presented as a non‑negotiable response to what Pyongyang calls a “sovereignty breach.”
Seoul rejects the accusation and probes private operators South Korea’s defense ministry denied military involvement, suggesting civilian or private actors might have launched the drones[1][3]. President Lee Jae‑Myung ordered a joint military‑police investigation team to examine private‑sector participation[4]. The government pledged a full inquiry while maintaining that it has not provoked the North[1].
Kim dismisses Seoul’s peace overtures and escalates rhetoric Kim Yo‑jong called South Korea’s recent peace‑building statements “a daydream,” asserting that inter‑Korean relations cannot improve under current provocations[1]. She labeled Seoul a “group of hooligans and scrap” and warned of “terrible consequences” if another drone incident occurs[3]. The language signals a hardening stance despite diplomatic gestures from the South.
Sources (4 articles)
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[1]
Yonhap (Article 1): Kim Yo‑jong demands apology after North Korea accuses Seoul of drone incursions – Details Kim’s apology demand, North’s drone claims, Seoul’s denial, and threats of harsher retaliation.
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[2]
Yonhap (Article 2): Kim Yo‑jong demands apology after North Korea accuses Seoul of drone incursions – Reiterates the apology demand, outlines the September and January drone incidents, and notes the KCNA‑driven hardening of Pyongyang’s message.
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[3]
Yonhap (Article 3): Kim Yo‑jong Demands Explanation From Seoul Over Drone Incursions – Highlights Kim’s call for an explanation, Seoul’s denial with private‑actor possibility, and analysis of the statement’s pressure tactics.
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[4]
Yonhap (Article 4): Kim Yo‑jong demands Seoul explain drone incursions as Seoul denies private‑entity role – Reports Kim’s demand for details, Seoul’s joint probe order, and the linkage of drone footage to Kaesong uranium and industrial sites.
Timeline
Sep 2025 – North Korea reports that drones carrying surveillance equipment cross its border, are neutralised by electronic means and fall near Kaesong, calling the act a “sovereignty breach.” The incident establishes a precedent for Pyongyang’s later accusations of repeated provocations. [4]
Jan 4, 2026 – A second drone equipped with surveillance gear breaches North Korean airspace, reinforcing Pyongyang’s claim that “the drone from the ROK violated the airspace of our country.” The repeat incursion deepens inter‑Korean tension. [1][4]
Jan 10, 2026 – Kim Yo‑jong issues a KCNA statement demanding a detailed explanation from Seoul and warns, “If the ROK opts for provocation against us again, it will never be able to deal with the terrible consequences to be entailed by it.” President Lee Jae‑Myung orders a joint military‑police probe into possible private operators behind the drones. [4]
Jan 11, 2026 – Kim Yo‑jong praises the ROK defence ministry’s “wise choice” to deny provocation, reiterates that “the drones clearly violated our airspace,” and links the recovered video to a uranium mine and the Kaesong joint industrial complex, again threatening “terrible consequences” for any repeat. Seoul maintains its denial and suggests private actors may be responsible. [2][4]
Jan 13, 2026 – Kim Yo‑jong escalates the rhetoric, demanding Seoul “acknowledge the provocation, apologize for it and take measures to prevent a recurrence,” dismisses Seoul’s peace overtures as “a daydream,” and warns that continued incursions will force “a price it cannot handle.” The hardening stance signals a possible shift toward harsher retaliation. [1][3]