South’s military says it ‘can’t confirm’ North’s claims that Seoul sent drones to Pyongyang

North Korea accused South Korea Friday of sending unmanned drones to Pyongyang three times over the past week, calling it a serious military provocation.

An image of what North Korea claims is South Korea’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) released by North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency Friday [YONHAP]

North Korea accused South Korea Friday of sending unmanned drones to Pyongyang three times over the past week, calling it a serious military provocation.

The North Korean Foreign Ministry claimed Seoul sent unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) carrying propaganda leaflets to Pyongyang on Oct. 3 and earlier this week over Wednesday and Thursday in a statement carried on its state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) Friday evening.

The ministry in a “crucial statement” called the move an "open infringement" of its “sacred national sovereignty and security” and a "wanton violation of the international law and a grave military attack, for which the ROK must pay a dear price.” ROK is the acronym for South Korea’s official name, the Republic of Korea.

It called on South Korea to immediately end its "dangerous provocation" that could lead to "an armed conflict” that could “lead to a war between the two sides."

The ministry said Seoul's latest "reckless” act was a "serious political and military provocation" that requires retaliation, citing its right to self-defense.

It added that its Defense Ministry and military have begun preparations to respond to various situations “of the developing situation.”

“With the possibility of using all means of attack in readiness, we seriously warn the ROK as an ultimatum again to the last,” the North said in the statement carried by the KCNA. “If the ROK commits such a provocation as infiltrating a drone into airspace of the DPRK once again, the DPRK will launch an action immediately without any warning.”

Along with the ministry's statement, North Korea released photos an alleged South Korean drone that it claimed was captured in its skies, as well as photos of a container containing a bundle of supposed anti-Pyongyang leaflets.

An image of anti-Pyongyang leaflets allegedly sent by South Korea released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency Friday [YONHAP]

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in an initial statement later Friday that the military has not sent its drones over to North Korea.

"The military has not sent a drone to North Korea," a JCS official said. "We need to confirm whether a civilian group sent one."

When asked by lawmakers about North's claims amid a parliamentary audit session Friday, Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun likewise denied such a move from the military, saying he will "check the situation."

However, the South Korean military later said it “can’t confirm the truth behind North Korea’s claims.”

The military in a statement strongly urged North Korea to exercise self-restraint and “not to act rashly.”

"Our basic position is that we can’t confirm whether North Korea’s claims are true," Defense Minister Kim likewise told lawmakers after he was briefed on the situation. “Strategically, we can only say that we can’t confirm it.”

When asked to clarify, Kim repeated the stance, claiming national security and operational security reasons.

However, he added, "It could be done within North Korea,” leaving open the possibility of the move being the North’s own construct.

An image of anti-Pyongyang leaflets allegedly sent by South Korea released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency Friday [YONHAP]

The South Korean government opting to maintain a stance of strategic ambiguity, leaving open all possibilities, is interpreted by analysts as an attempt to cause confusion for the North’s response to the issue.

Experts have raised the possibility that Seoul-based civic groups that have been sending leaflets to the North may have sent the purported drones. Some activist groups have reportedly sent off smart balloons, equipped with GPS tracking, that are designed to disseminate leaflets at specific points based on their wind speed and direction.

The front page of North Korea’s official Rodong Sinmun, carrying its Foreign Ministry’s statement on South Korea’s alleged sending of drones to Pyongyang skies earlier this month [YONHAP]

The JCS confirmed that North Korea sent more trash-laden balloons late Friday, after launching some 40 balloons earlier in the day.

This comes as North Korea has launched multiple rounds of trash-laden balloons to the South since late May.

North Korea’s official Rodong Sinmun also reported Saturday that its residents saw and heard South Korean drones infiltrated Pyongyang skies three times this month and distributed anti-North leaflets. It released its Foreign Ministry’s full statement on its front page.

Update, Oct. 11: Story updated with further details.Update, Oct. 12: Story updated with new headline, the South Korean military's updated response and English-language statements from the KCNA.

BY SARAH KIM, LIM JEONG-WON [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]