North Korea claims to have discovered the remains of a South…

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said Saturday that authorities found the remains of a South Korean drone during a search in the capital, Pyongyang, and that the drone proved the military South Korean was behind the alleged drone infiltrations in the city’s skies. earlier in the month.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff in a statement called the North Korean claim “unilateral” and “unworthy of response.”

North Korea’s official news agency released photos showing an apparently damaged plane with large V-shaped wings and fins. It said a joint investigation by the North Korean military and security agencies State Security had concluded that the plane, which it said was discovered on October 13, was the same type of drone that appeared during a South Korean military parade earlier in October.

North Korea has accused South Korea of ​​flying drones into Pyongyang’s night skies three times this month to drop anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets. He threatened to respond forcefully if such thefts happened again.

The plane reportedly found in Pyongyang was likely one of the drones used to drop leaflets, the North Korean Defense Ministry said, but further examination was needed to verify it.

The ministry said that if South Korea denied that the plane was used to drop leaflets, it would only acknowledge a separate infiltration of North Korean airspace by the South Korean military. If North Korea confirms another violation of its territory, airspace and waters by the South Korean military, it will be considered a “declaration of war and an immediate retaliatory attack will be launched”, added the ministry.

South Korea’s defense minister initially made a vague denial after the North’s Oct. 11 accusation that the South had sent drones over Pyongyang. South Korea’s military adjusted its response hours later, saying it could not confirm whether the North’s claims were true or not.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are now at their worst level in years as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un steps up weapons tests and threats, and expands military cooperation with Russia. South Korea says the North sent troops to support Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The animosity has been exacerbated by Cold War-style psychological warfare campaigns between the Koreas in recent months.

Since May, North Korea has sent thousands of balloons carrying scrap paper, plastic and other waste to the South. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said authorities detected that North Korea launched a new series of balloons toward the South on Saturday evening and urged citizens to be alert for falling objects.

The South Korean military responded to North Korean balloon campaigns by using loudspeakers on the border to broadcast propaganda and K-pop to North Korea. North Korea is extremely sensitive to any outside criticism of Kim’s authoritarian government and his family’s dynastic rule.