Government: "North Korea's Drone Intrusion Incident Due to Vulnerable Regime Issues"

North Korea Creates External Crises to Control Residents

The government evaluated North Korea's claim of South Korean drones infiltrating Pyongyang and raising tension levels as an attempt to address internal issues stemming from regime vulnerabilities.

On the 14th, Koo Byung-sam, spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification, stated at a regular briefing held at the Government Seoul Office, "North Korea has long created and exaggerated external crises and tensions to consolidate its vulnerable internal regime and control its people," adding, "The sudden and unusual drone commotion appears to have a similar intent."

Goo Byung-sam, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Unification [Photo by Yonhap News]

He specifically mentioned the 2020 demolition of the inter-Korean liaison office and the 2015 planting of landmines in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), noting, "North Korea has escalated crisis situations under internal demands or other purposes whenever it deemed necessary."

He also said, "There may be purposes such as accumulating justification for provocations and creating anxiety and confusion within our society," emphasizing, "Regardless of the intent, threats and provocations will never achieve what they desire."

Regarding questions about whether there are civilian groups that distributed leaflets to the North on the 3rd, 9th, and 10th as North Korea claimed, or if there are groups sending leaflets to the North using drones, he drew a line by saying, "It is not appropriate to respond to each of North Korea's claims or verify the facts."

On plans to request restraint from groups sending leaflets to North Korea, he replied, "There is no change in the position that has been consistently maintained." The government’s policy is that it cannot block the distribution of leaflets to North Korea in accordance with the Constitutional Court’s decision to respect freedom of expression.