SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – North Korea's military has accused South Korea of flying drones across the inter-Korean border, issuing a warning on Saturday that the South will face "consequences for its unpardonable hysteria." This accusation intensifies tensions between the two nations, particularly as efforts by South Korea's liberal government to restore diplomatic ties with North Korea seem increasingly futile.

In response to the claim, South Korea firmly denied any incursions, stating that it did not operate drones on the dates specified by North Korea. To investigate the matter further, President Lee Jae Myung has called for a comprehensive review of the allegations. Since taking office in June, Lee’s government has actively sought to renew dialogue and reconciliation with North Korea, but these overtures have been consistently rebuffed by the North.

The situation escalated on Sunday when North Korean forces reported using special electronic warfare capabilities to bring down a South Korean drone that had allegedly crossed into North Korean airspace. The General Staff of the North Korean People’s Army claimed the drone was equipped with two cameras which filmed unspecified areas within North Korean territory. This incident follows a previous claim by North Korea that a South Korean drone had infiltrated its airspace on September 27, 2023, before it was reportedly forced to crash due to electronic countermeasures.

North Korean authorities denounced what they termed "the hooligans’ serial outrageous encroachment upon our sovereignty," asserting that the “Republic of Korea (ROK) military warmongers will surely be forced to pay a dear price for their unpardonable hysteria." The ROK is the official abbreviation for South Korea, highlighting the ongoing hostilities and lack of cooperation between the two Koreas.

Despite the challenges, President Lee expressed ambitions to return to talks, even reaching out to Chinese President Xi Jinping during a recent summit to act as a mediator to reduce tensions. Xi responded by suggesting patience in handling the situation, indicative of the delicate diplomatic balance in the region.

Since the failure of high-stakes nuclear negotiations between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and then U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019—largely due to disagreements over sanctions—North Korea has largely avoided dialogue with both the U.S. and South Korea, opting instead to advance its nuclear capabilities. The North has declared a confrontational "two-state system" aimed at severing relations with South Korea altogether.

Drone operations have been a significant point of contention in inter-Korean relations, with each country regularly accusing the other of conducting surveillance flights. In October 2024, North Korea accused South Korea of deploying drones over its capital, Pyongyang, to disseminate propaganda leaflets. At that time, South Korea's military could not confirm the veracity of the North's claims. Tensions escalated, with North Korea threatening a military response, although no major confrontation occurred, and the situation eventually calmed.

South Korea has similarly reported instances of North Korean drones intruding into its airspace. In December 2022, the South Korean military took defensive measures, including firing warning shots and scrambling fighter jets in reaction to what it designated as North Korea's first drone incursions in five years.

As reported incidents continue to spur hostility between the two nations, the prospect for diplomacy seems dim, suggesting a cycle of escalatory rhetoric and military posturing will persist in the absence of reconciliation efforts.