Kim Kang Il, the Vice Minister of National Defence of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, publicly announced the following press statement: “National sovereignty, security, and interests will be protected with strong self-defence power” on 25 May:
Various aerial espionage measures by the United States and the puppet aviation of South Korea have recently openly escalated their hostile aerial espionage activities against the DPRK.
16 strategic reconnaissance aircraft of the United States Air Force, five RC-135s and eleven U-2S, participated in aerial espionage activities against the DPRK from 13 to 24 May.
It is worth noting that the United States Air Force directed three RC-135s from 20 to 23 May.
The United States Air Force and the puppet aviation of the Republic of Korea continue to severely violate the sovereignty and security of the DPRK by carrying out aerial espionage activities at a level beyond the wartime situation, by repeatedly mobilising the RQ-4B reconnaissance drone and other reconnaissance aircraft almost without any delay every day.
Such hostile espionage activities, along with various military exercises, have become the cause of continually rising militaristic tensions in the region.
Recently, the Republic of Korea has become shameless in its despicable psychological warfare, dropping leaflets and various dirty items near the borders of the DPRK.
Dropping leaflets using balloons is a dangerous provocation that could be used for a specific militaristic purpose.
We have already explained our position on the dangerous farce of dropping items with balloons.
The number of violations of our maritime border by the enemy is also increasing.
Various types of warships of the Navy and maritime police of the puppet Republic of Korea frequently cross our maritime border under pretences such as mobile patrolling.
Such frequent violations of our maritime border will have dangerous consequences.
We have never crossed the northern line designated by the Republic of Korea.
We have already warned that we will take the necessary military measures to defend our sovereignty and security.
We officially warn that we cannot tolerate such continuous violations of our maritime sovereignty and that we may use our self-defence power at sea or underwater at any moment.
If an incident occurs at sea, the Republic of Korea will be entirely blamed for violating the maritime sovereignty of the DPRK despite warnings.
It is our choice that if the Republic of Korea refuses to respect the maritime border announced by the DPRK, South Korea should be made fearful of crossing it.
The highest military leadership of the DPRK on 24 May ordered its army to take offensive action against the provocative violation of the DPRK’s sovereignty by the enemy.
Retaliatory actions will also be taken in response to the frequent dropping of leaflets and other waste by the Republic of Korea near the borders.
Stacks of paper and dirt will soon be scattered along the borders and inside the Republic of Korea, and it will directly experience how much effort is needed to remove them.
When our national sovereignty, security, and interests are violated, we will take immediate action.
