Pyongyang: The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has expressed her "high appreciation" for South Korea's recent pledge to prevent further drone incursions into North Korean territory. In a statement released through the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim Yo-jong, who serves as a party vice department director, emphasized North Korea's commitment to strengthening border vigilance with the South.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim Yo-jong's comments followed a statement by South Korea's Unification Minister, Chung Dong-young, expressing "regret" over past drone incursions and outlining measures to prevent such incidents in the future. Minister Chung acknowledged these incursions during a press conference, explaining that drones were sent into North Korean airspace by South Korean individuals on four occasions between last September and February.

Minister Chung announced that South Korea would review and aim to reinstate the suspended 2018 military pact with North Korea. This agreement, designed to decrease hostilities along the inter-Korean border, includes a no-fly zone to prevent further drone intrusions.

In response to these developments, Kim Yo-jong issued a stern warning to South Korea, cautioning that there would be "terrible consequences" if sovereignty violations occur again. She emphasized that preventing such incidents is crucial for South Korea's own existence, and stressed the importance of maintaining strict border security.

The backdrop to these tensions is a recent declaration by Kim Jong-un at a year-end party meeting, where he described inter-Korean relations as those between "two states hostile to each other." This statement has led to a continuation of hostile policies towards Seoul from Pyongyang.