Photo : YONHAP News
South Korea’s ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs assessed that North Korea has likely claimed Seoul had infiltrated its capital Pyongyang with drones to escalate cross-border tensions due to problems within the regime amid vulnerability.
At a press briefing on Monday, unification ministry spokesperson Koo Byoung-sam said the North has created and exaggerated crises and tensions in a bid to rally support for the regime and to reinforce control over its people.
The spokesperson said while Pyongyang may be seeking to justify its provocations, or create anxiety and confusion within the South Korean society, it will never get what it wants through threats and provocations.
Asked about Seoul’s intent to engage in dialogue with Pyongyang over its demand for preventive measures, Koo said President Yoon Suk Yeol has already proposed dialogue by announcing the “August 15 Unification Doctrine,” but that there is no additional confirmation.
While the North claims that defector groups in the South had disseminated anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets after flying the drones three times this month, the spokesperson said it would be inappropriate to verify each and every claim made by the regime.