PYONGYANG(The COW News Digital)North Korea has demanded formal assurances from South Korea to prevent any future violations of its sovereignty, following tensions sparked by an alleged drone intrusion earlier this year.
According to state media, Pyongyang urged the government in Seoul to adopt concrete measures to ensure that incidents such as unauthorized aerial incursions do not recur. The statement reflects heightened sensitivities between the two neighbors amid already fragile inter-Korean relations.
Kim Yo Jong, vice department director of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers’ Party, said South Korea’s Minister of Unification, Jeong Tong-yong, had formally expressed regret earlier this week over the drone incident that reportedly took place at the start of the year.
However, Kim Yo Jong stressed that expressions of regret alone are insufficient to resolve what she described as a serious breach of sovereignty. She called on the South Korean government to implement “substantial and preventive measures” that would guarantee the inviolability of North Korea’s airspace.
“Attempting to suppress the crisis merely through words of regret is not enough,” she said, according to the official statement. “Concrete steps must be taken to ensure that such grave acts, including violations of our state’s airspace, will never occur again.”
Pyongyang warned that any repeat of what it termed a provocative act infringing upon its “irreversible sovereignty” would prompt a strong and decisive response. The remarks underscore North Korea’s longstanding position that territorial integrity and sovereign rights are non-negotiable issues.
Relations between the two Koreas have remained tense in recent years, with intermittent diplomatic efforts failing to produce sustained breakthroughs. Military drills, surveillance activities, and cross-border incidents have frequently fueled mistrust.
While Seoul has expressed regret over the reported drone event, it has yet to publicly outline additional measures in response to Pyongyang’s latest demands. Analysts say the exchange highlights the fragile security environment on the Korean Peninsula, where even limited incidents can rapidly escalate diplomatic tensions.
Observers note that both sides face mounting pressure to prevent misunderstandings from spiraling into broader confrontations, particularly amid ongoing regional security challenges in Northeast Asia.
