North Korea has accused South Korea of two recent drone incursions into its airspace, issuing a stern warning that Seoul will "pay a dear price" for what it terms "unpardonable hysteria" and provocative acts. The accusations, reported by North Korean state media KCNA on Saturday, January 10, 2026, detail incidents on January 4, 2026, and September 27, 2025. Pyongyang claims its forces used electronic warfare assets to bring down both drones, which were allegedly equipped with surveillance cameras and recorded footage of North Korean facilities. Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, amplified the threats, urging South Korea to thoroughly investigate the incidents and warning of a "terrible calamity" if such flights persist. However, South Korea's Defense Ministry swiftly and strongly denied the allegations. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back stated that the South Korean military did not operate any drones on the dates specified by North Korea and clarified that the military does not even possess the types of drones displayed in North Korean media as evidence. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the matter, with authorities also exploring the possibility of civilian drones being involved. This latest exchange reignites long-standing aerial tensions between the two Koreas, who frequently accuse each other of cross-border drone activity. Some analysts suggest that North Korea's claims, involving what appear to be commercially available, low-tech drones, may be politically motivated. They argue that Pyongyang could be using these incidents to reinforce its narrative of inter-Korean relations as irreversibly hostile, particularly ahead of an upcoming key party congress, rather than responding to a significant military threat. The development further complicates efforts by the current South Korean administration to re-engage in dialogue with Pyongyang.