On Monday, North Korea lodged an accusation against the United States, alleging that it had violated its airspace through surveillance flights.

The North Korean Ministry of National Defense, represented by an unnamed spokesperson, cautioned that while Pyongyang was currently demonstrating restraint, it might resort to shooting down such flights.

According to an official statement reported by the KCNA news agency, the provocative military actions of the United States were pushing the Korean peninsula closer to a potential nuclear conflict.

The report highlighted the deployment of U.S. reconnaissance planes, drones, and a nuclear submarine near the peninsula as evidence of Washington’s escalating tensions, Reuters reported.

The spokesperson expressed concern over the possibility of a catastrophic incident similar to the downing of a U.S. Air Force strategic reconnaissance plane in the waters east of Korea.

The statement also referred to past instances of North Korea shooting down or intercepting U.S. aircraft along the border with South Korea and off the coast, noting that North Korea has frequently expressed dissatisfaction with U.S. surveillance flights near the peninsula.

At the time of this statement, there was no immediate response from the U.S. military stationed in South Korea regarding the allegations.

In response to North Korea’s claim, South Korea’s military refuted the accusation of airspace violation, affirming that U.S. air surveillance assets routinely conduct reconnaissance flights around the peninsula.

They further emphasized the close collaboration between the allies in monitoring North Korea’s activities.

Written by staff