[ANALYSIS] N. Korea's threats against US spy plane aimed at boosting internal cohesion: analysts

A U.S. U-2S reconnaissance aircraft flies over Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. Yonhap

Pyongyang refers to Seoul by official name, signaling major shift in inter-Korean policies

By Lee Hyo-jin

A series of verbal threats by North Korea accusing a U.S. spy plane of intruding into its airspace appears to be a part of Pyongyang's efforts to consolidate internal cohesion ahead of a major military parade scheduled for later this month, defense analysts said, Tuesday.

Although experts viewed the intrusion claim to be groundless, they said the latest statements issued by the North may signal a major shift in its perception of South Korea, not as the other side of a divided nation, but a foreign country.

Earlier in the day, Kim Yo-jong, the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, issued a statement through Pyongyang's official mouthpiece, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), accusing a U.S. reconnaissance plane of intruding into its exclusive economic zone the previous day.

"The strategic reconnaissance plane of the U.S. Air Force illegally intruded into the economic maritime zone of the DPRK side in the East Sea of Korea eight times," she said, claiming that the "aerial espionage act" occurred from 5:15 a.m. to 1:10 p.m. on Monday. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.

She also warned that the North will have to take "decisive action" in the event of a repeated "illegal intrusion."

Kim's remarks came just hours after she issued a similar statement around 9 p.m., Monday, which was a follow-up to an initial statement by the North's defense military spokesperson that morning.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) denied the allegations raised by the North, saying that the U.S. warplane was conducting standard reconnaissance activities in cooperation with South Korea's military.

Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University, said it is rare for Pyongyang to release three statements on the same matter in less than 24 hours.

"The initial statement issued by the defense ministry spokesperson had some errors. It claimed that the warplane intruded the DPRK's airspace. So Kim Yo-jong had to issue a follow-up statement in the evening, correcting that the plane flew above the exclusive economic zone (EEZ)," he said.

N. Korean accusation of airspace violation unfounded: State Dept.

2023-07-12 13:36 | North Korea

Kim Yo-Jong, the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, makes a speech during a national meeting held in Pyongyang, Aug. 10, 2022. Yonhap

A country's EEZ, which extends 200 nautical miles from the 12 nautical-mile territorial zone around the coast, does not confer sovereignty over the water's surface or the airspace above it.

Saying that Monday's reconnaissance flight by the U.S. plane is deemed as a routine activity, Park viewed that Kim's verbal threats against the U.S. are actually aimed at rallying its people together against foreign enemies.

"Given the timing of the statement, I would say that the regime is trying to consolidate internal cohesion ahead of the major military parade on July 27. Multiple signs indicate that people (in the North) are grappling with economic difficulties and food shortages," he said.

July 27 is celebrated as "Victory Day" in the North, claiming that it defeated a U.S. invasion of its territory in the Korean War. Pyongyang is expected to hold a large military parade on the upcoming holiday, displaying its latest nuclear weapons.

Shin Jong-woo, a researcher at the Korea Defense and Security Forum, a think tank, viewed that the North's "false claim" could mean that the reclusive regime is running out of cards to play against the U.S. and South Korea.

"The North seems to be opting for verbal threats since military provocations, such as launching ballistic missiles or nuclear tests, are difficult to carry out in the summer monsoon season," he said.

The U.S. Department of State, for its part, urged North Korea to refrain from escalating tensions.

"I would just say that we would urge the DPRK to refrain from escalatory actions, and again, calling it to engage in serious and sustained diplomacy," said its spokesperson, Matthew Miller, during a press briefing, Monday (local time).

"We remain committed to diplomacy and reiterate our interest in dialogue with Pyongyang without preconditions," Miller added.

Meanwhile, Kim referred to South Korea as the "Republic of Korea," instead of "Nam Joseon" in the Korean version of her statement. Nam Joseon is the commonly used term by the North Korean regime when it refers to South Korea.

As for the changed description, Park said her reference to South Korea by its official name could be a sign that Pyongyang is preparing to change its stance and policies toward South Korea.

"And it aligns with some previous moves showing the North's intent to treat South Korea as a foreign country," he added.

Earlier this month, when Pyongyang dismissed a request by Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun to visit Mount Geungang, the North released a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, instead of other agencies related to inter-Korean affairs, raising speculations that the North may be seeking to reclassify South Korea as a foreign country.