South Korea's armed forces said they are "fully prepared" to respond to warnings from North Korea after tensions between the two countries escalated over drone flights to Pyongyang, which ordered its troops along the border to prepare to open fire, AFP reported, BTA reported.
The North accuses Seoul of flying drones over its capital and dropping propaganda leaflets full of "inflammatory rumors and rubbish". On Sunday, Pyongyang warned that sending more drones would be considered a "declaration of war".
The South Korean military denies being behind the drone flights and accuses activist groups in the South of sending propaganda and US currency to the North, usually by balloon. However, Pyongyang believes that Seoul is responsible for what is happening and announced last night that eight military brigades already on alert had been ordered to "fully prepare to open fire".
In addition, air surveillance posts in the North Korean capital have been reinforced. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff neither confirmed nor denied that the military was responsible for sending the drones, calling Pyongyang's claims "shameless".
"Our military is closely monitoring the situation and is ready to respond to the North's provocations," said Joint Committee spokesman Lee Son-jun at a media briefing. Seoul's Unification Ministry said the drone claims may be an attempt by the North to bolster a sense of solidarity in the country. In addition, it is possible that Pyongyang is looking for an occasion to "organize provocations or create anxiety and confusion in our society," added ministry spokesman Ku Byeong-sam.