Seoul, February 19 – The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said on Thursday that she 'highly appreciates' South Korea's pledge to prevent further incursions by drones into the North, vowing to increase the country's vigilance along the border with the South.
Kim Yo-jong, a vice director of the Workers' Party of Korea, issued the statement through the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) a day after Unification Minister Chung Dong-young expressed 'regret' over drone incursions into the North and announced a series of measures aimed at preventing a recurrence.
"I highly appreciate Minister Chung Dong-young of the Republic of Korea for officially acknowledging the intrusion of a drone, manufactured in the ROK, into our country's airspace, expressing regret once again and willingness to prevent a recurrence," Kim said in the statement.
ROK stands for the Republic of Korea, South Korea's official name.
At a press conference the previous day, Chung acknowledged that, based on the results of an investigation, drones were sent to the North by South Korean individuals four times between last September and February, including two occasions confirmed by the North.
Chung said that Seoul will review and seek to reinstate the suspended 2018 military pact with North Korea, aimed at halting hostilities along the inter-Korean border and between their militaries, including a no-fly zone, as part of measures to prevent a repeat of drone incursions into the North.
In January, Pyongyang accused Seoul of sending drones equipped with surveillance equipment in September and on January 4, prompting the South Korean government to launch an official investigation.
Kim warned South Korea will face 'terrible consequences' if such a 'violation of sovereignty' reoccurs, "regardless of who the mastermind is and by what means it is carried out. This is not a threat, but a strong warning."
She claimed that guaranteeing the prevention of repeated violations of North Korea's sovereignty is "entirely for the existence of the ROK."
She also warned that the border with the "enemy" should be firmly guarded, adding, "Our military leadership will take steps to heighten vigilance in all sectors along the southern border with the ROK."
At a year-end party meeting in December 2023, North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un declared inter-Korean relations as those between "two states hostile to each other" and has since pursued hostile policies toward Seoul, Yonhap news agency reported.
An official at the South Korean unification ministry said the ministry 'takes note' of North Korea's "prompt" response to Chung's statement, reiterating Seoul's determination to 'responsibly' pursue the prevention measures announced the previous day.