North Korea on Friday accused South Korea of carrying out another drone incursion into its airspace, heightening tensions on the Korean Peninsula amid already strained inter-Korean relations.

The accusation was made by the Korean People’s Army (KPA), which claimed that unmanned aerial vehicles originating from the South crossed into North Korean territory earlier this week.

According to a statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the alleged drone intrusion occurred over areas close to the heavily fortified border between the two countries.

The KPA described the incident as a “grave provocation” and warned that such actions could trigger “serious military consequences.” It alleged that the drones were deployed for espionage purposes, accusing South Korea of attempting to gather intelligence on sensitive military installations.

“The repeated dispatch of drones into our sovereign airspace is a blatant violation of our territorial integrity and an open act of hostility,” the KPA said, adding that North Korea reserves the right to take “strong and resolute countermeasures” to defend its security.

South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense, however, denied the allegation, describing it as “unfounded and misleading.

” In a brief statement, the ministry said the South Korean military did not conduct any drone operations in North Korean airspace and urged Pyongyang to refrain from making “irresponsible claims that only serve to escalate tensions.”

This is not the first time Pyongyang has accused Seoul of drone incursions. In recent months, North Korea has repeatedly alleged that South Korean drones have violated its airspace, particularly around Pyongyang and border regions. Seoul has consistently rejected such claims.

Security analysts say the latest accusation comes amid a sharp deterioration in inter-Korean ties, marked by North Korea’s recent missile tests and the South’s continued joint military exercises with the United States. Pyongyang has often cited these drills as evidence of hostile intent against it.

Observers warn that persistent accusations and counter-accusations could further destabilise the region, especially at a time when diplomatic channels between the two Koreas remain largely frozen.

Efforts by the international community to ease tensions on the peninsula have so far yielded limited results, with both sides maintaining hardline positions on security and defence matters.