South Korea denies North Korea's claim it sent drones into Pyongyang

Seoul: North Korea's foreign ministry said on Friday South Korea sent drones that flew into the capital Pyongyang in what it called a political and military provocation, drawing a swift denial from Seoul's military.

The drones flying at night entered Pyongyang and scattered "numerous" anti-North Korea leaflets in the capital city last week and this week, the North's foreign ministry said in a statement carried by state news agency KCNA.

The drone intrusion requires retaliatory action, it added, while urging the South to suspend such actions.

"This irresponsible and dangerous provocation that could lead to armed conflict and even war between the two sides should be stopped immediately," the ministry was quoted as saying in the statement.

South Korea's military said it had not flown any drones into North Korea, Yonhap news agency reported.

Some activists in South Korea fly balloons into the North carrying aid parcels and leaflets criticising leader Kim Jong Un.

The two Koreas are still technically at war after their 1950-53 war ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty, and the North has long denounced defectors as "human scum".