Sister of North Korea's leader warns of ‘terrible response’ over alleged South Korean drone flights

North Korea’s powerful official, Kim Yo Jong , sister of leader Kim Jong Un and first deputy department director of the ruling Workers’ Party , on Friday welcomed an expression of regret from a South Korean government minister over alleged civilian drone flights into the North but deemed it insufficient and warned that further incursions could trigger a “terrible response,” escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Kim’s remarks followed Unification Minister Chung Dong‑young ’s statement on Tuesday, in which he conveyed “deep regret” over the alleged drone flights and reaffirmed Seoul’s desire for mutual recognition and peaceful coexistence between the war‑divided Koreas. Chung’s comments marked the first official acknowledgment of Pyongyang’s claims that drones entered its airspace in both September and early January.

Kim Yo Jong called Chung’s statement “sensible behavior” but criticized it as “insufficient” and pressed South Korea to take concrete steps to prevent similar incidents in the future, saying any recurrence would “surely provoke a terrible response.” She added that North Korea has “various counterattack plans on the table” and would choose one that could go “beyond proportionality,” without offering specifics.

The South Korean government has denied any formal military involvement in the alleged flights but has launched a joint investigation . Authorities in Seoul have identified civilians, including a graduate student in his 30s, and are probing their connections to military intelligence in an effort to establish what happened.

In response to North Korea’s demands, South Korea’s Unification Ministry pledged Friday to take “immediate” action to strengthen prevention measures and avoid future airspace violations, describing both sides’ recent exchange as a potential step toward rebuilding trust that was eroded under previous administrations.

The escalating rhetoric comes at a politically sensitive moment. President Lee Jae Myung has been working to repair strained ties with Pyongyang after years of stalled diplomacy, and analysts say Kim Yo Jong’s warnings could complicate Seoul’s efforts to resume dialogue and reduce military tensions.

North Korea’s accusations have also been viewed as part of a broader effort to stoke anti-South sentiment ahead of an important party congress later this month, where leader Kim Jong Un may solidify constitutional changes toward a hostile “two-state” system for the Korean Peninsula.

There have been no formal talks between the Koreas since 2019, and drone flights whether genuine or alleged remain a flashpoint in inter-Korean relations .