Kim Yo‑jong Praises Seoul’s Drone Pledge While Threatening Severe Repercussions and Reviewing 2018 No‑Fly Zone
Updated (81 articles)
Kim Yo‑jong Commends Seoul’s Drone‑Prevention Commitment Kim Yo‑jong, sister of Kim Jong‑un and senior party official, said she “highly appreciates” South Korea’s pledge to stop drone incursions during a KCNA release on Feb 19 2026, calling the promise a rare diplomatic acknowledgment from Pyongyang [1][2][3][4]. She framed the pledge as essential for regional stability and warned that any repeat breach would trigger “terrible consequences” [1][2]. The statement was issued a day after Unification Minister Chung Dong‑young’s admission of South‑origin drones [1].
Chung Dong‑young Admits Four South‑Origin Drone Flights Chung Dong‑young told reporters that investigations confirmed four drone flights launched from the South between September 2023 and February 2026, with Pyongyang verifying two of them [1][2][3][5]. He expressed regret over the incidents and outlined steps to prevent recurrence, including a probe that identified three civilian suspects linked to intelligence circles [5]. The minister’s admission marked the first official acknowledgment of civilian‑linked drone activity during a Catholic Mass [5].
Seoul Considers Restoring 2018 No‑Fly Zone Agreement In response to the drone incidents, the South Korean government announced a review of the suspended 2018 inter‑Korean military pact that established a no‑fly zone along the DMZ [1][2][5]. Reinstating the agreement would ban aircraft and drones within 15 km of the eastern DMZ and 10 km of the western sector [5]. The review is part of broader measures to block future violations and demonstrate responsible implementation of preventive steps [1].
North Korea Accuses South of Deploying Surveillance‑Equipped Drones Pyongyang claimed that the drones launched in September 2023 and on Jan 4 2026 were equipped with surveillance equipment, alleging a breach of its sovereignty [1][5]. The accusation prompted Seoul to open an official investigation into the incidents and to consider tighter border monitoring [1]. North Korean officials emphasized that the drones’ capabilities heightened security concerns along the border [1].
Kim Yo‑jong Threatens Severe Repercussions for Any Repeat Violation Kim Yo‑jong warned that any future sovereignty breach, regardless of the perpetrator or method, would bring “severe repercussions,” describing the warning as a “strong warning” rather than an empty threat [1][2][3][4]. She pledged to increase vigilance along the southern border, stating that safeguarding North Korea’s sovereignty is “entirely for the ROK’s existence” [2]. The rhetoric underscores Pyongyang’s readiness to respond forcefully to perceived incursions [1].
Sources
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1.
Yonhap: North Korean Sister Praises Seoul’s Drone Pledge, Warns of Severe Consequences: reports Kim Yo‑jong’s appreciation, warning, Chung’s admission of four drone flights, review of the 2018 pact, and North’s claim of surveillance‑equipped drones.
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Yonhap: Kim Yo‑jong Praises South Korea’s Drone Pledge, Warns of Consequences: adds emphasis on heightened border vigilance, existential stakes for the ROK, and background on Kim Jong‑un’s 2023 hostile stance.
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Yonhap: Kim Yo‑jong Praises South Korea’s Drone Pledge, Calls for Heightened Border Vigilance: focuses on Kim’s gratitude, Chung’s regret, and her call for firm border guarding, noting her senior party role.
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Yonhap: North Korean Leader’s Sister Evaluates South Korean Drone‑Prevention Pledge, Calls for Heightened Border Vigilance: highlights “highly assesses” language, timing of KCNA release, and assessment of the pledge.
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Yonhap: Kim Yo‑jong praises South Korean regret over drone incursion as “sensible”: details Kim’s “sensible” comment on Seoul’s regret, investigation of three civilian suspects, and threat of “various counterattack plans.”
Timeline
Nov 28, 2025 – North Korea passes a “city formation and development” law, unveils an AI‑powered weather‑forecast system and a new 500‑ton cruise ship, signaling a domestic modernization drive amid rising security tensions[30].
Dec 2025 – North Korea conducts hypersonic‑missile flights, fires long‑range strategic cruise missiles and anti‑air missiles, and shows photos of its first nuclear‑powered submarine prototype, highlighting a rapid expansion of its deterrent arsenal[1].
Sept 27, 2025 – Pyongyang claims a South‑origin drone enters its airspace and is shot down near Kaesong, releasing photos of Chinese‑made parts and a Samsung‑branded memory card to accuse Seoul of a sovereignty breach[20][24][25].
Dec 10, 2025 – South Korea’s defence ministry dismisses drone‑command chief Kim Yong‑dae amid a special‑counsel probe linking a 2024 drone operation to former President Yoon’s martial‑law plan, underscoring the political fallout of drone narratives[29].
Dec 22‑23, 2025 – Seoul’s Central District Court holds hearings on extending ex‑President Yoon Suk Yeol’s pre‑trial detention; prosecutors indict him for a drone deployment intended to provoke the North and justify a December martial‑law declaration, while Yoon denies the charge in a closed‑door hearing[28][27][26].
Jan 4, 2026 – North Korea says it uses electronic warfare to down a South Korean drone over a border town, alleging the UAV carries two cameras and calling the act a “grave violation” of its sovereignty[3][4][18][19].
Jan 10, 2026 – North Korea’s military accuses South Korea of border drone flights in September and on Jan 4; Kim Yo‑jong notes Seoul’s denial and warns of “terrible consequences” for any repeat breach[20][21].
Jan 11, 2026 – Pyongyang warns Seoul it will “pay a price” for the alleged drone incursion, while South Korea’s defence ministry rejects the claim and President Lee orders a swift, rigorous investigation into possible civilian involvement[18][19].
Jan 12, 2026 – A joint police‑military team of about 30 officials launches a probe into the drone allegations, examining civilian origins and the option of a joint inter‑Korean investigation through the United Nations Command[16][17].
Jan 14, 2026 – Unification Minister Chung Dong‑young pledges that Seoul will take “corresponding action” once the fact‑finding team finishes its swift investigation and hints at apologising for a 2024 drone dispatch if court rulings require it[15].
Jan 15, 2026 – Chung announces a swift response to the drone claims, convenes an advisory panel that includes former ministers, and frames U.S. President Donald Trump’s planned April visit to China as a decisive moment for peninsula peace[14].
Jan 16, 2026 – Authorities summon a civilian suspect for questioning in the drone‑incursion probe; President Lee warns that a confirmed civilian act would constitute a grave crime threatening regional stability[13].
Jan 16, 2026 (expected) – South Korea’s court is set to deliver a verdict on former President Yoon’s obstruction‑of‑justice charge, while separate proceedings continue over alleged drone‑related martial‑law plots, highlighting the lingering domestic fallout from the drone saga[27][28].
Jan 20, 2026 – President Lee Jae Myung orders a thorough cabinet‑level investigation into the civilian drone incursion, criticises the defence minister for surveillance gaps and stresses the need to avoid escalation that could harm the economy and inter‑Korean ties[12].
Jan 21, 2026 – Police and military raid the homes and offices of three civilian suspects, seize a partially assembled drone and link the suspects to a university‑backed startup and former presidential‑office contracts[9].
Jan 23, 2026 – South Korea places three civilians under overseas travel bans as part of its probe into alleged drone flights, citing a graduate student’s claim that he flew drones to check radiation at a North Korean uranium facility[2].
Jan 26, 2026 – Graduate student Oh appears before police after publicly admitting he piloted drones toward the North, asserting the missions aimed to detect radiation at a uranium site while investigators examine his ties to a former presidential office and covert media operations[8].
Jan 27, 2026 – North Korea launches suspected ballistic missiles toward the sea, timing the test ahead of the Workers’ Party congress and using it to showcase recent hypersonic and cruise‑missile advances[1].
Feb 18, 2026 – Kim Yo‑jong, Kim Jong‑un’s sister, thanks Seoul for its pledge to stop drone incursions, calls the statement “highly appreciates,” and vows to tighten border vigilance; Unification Minister Chung announces a review of the suspended 2018 inter‑Korean no‑fly‑zone pact[6][7].
Feb 19, 2026 – Kim Yo‑jong reiterates appreciation for South Korea’s drone‑prevention pledge, warns of “terrible consequences” for any repeat violation, and signals North Korea’s intent to intensify border monitoring as Seoul moves to restore the 2018 military agreement[5].
Late Jan–Feb 2026 (expected) – The Workers’ Party congress convenes, likely embedding Kim Jong‑un’s “two‑state” system declaration into the party constitution for the first time in five years, a political backdrop that frames the January missile launch and drone rhetoric[1].
Apr 2026 (planned) – U.S. President Donald Trump’s scheduled trip to China offers a diplomatic window that South Korean officials view as decisive for advancing inter‑Korean peace talks[14].
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