On anniversary of war, young North Koreans talk of tensions

Are the United States and North Korea moving closer to another war?

Though often referred to as the "Forgotten War" in the United States, it is anything but forgotten in North Korea. The July 27 anniversary of the Korean War armistice is celebrated as a major national holiday called "Victory in the Fatherland Liberation War Day" and is the culmination of "Anti-American Imperialist Month," which begins on June 23, the day the 1950-53 Korean War began.

North Korean university students wait for the start of a mass dance on Thursday, July 27, 2017, in Pyongyang, North Korea as part of celebrations for the 64th anniversary of the armistice that ended the Korean War. (AP Photo)

As young North Koreans took to plazas and public spaces across the capital on Thursday to join in mass dancing and other celebrations, The Associated Press asked several university students what they thought of the possibility that another war could break out in their lifetime.

University students wearing traditional Korean dresses wait in the rain for the start of a mass dance. (AP Photo)

North Korean university students in their uniform are seen reflected in a rain puddle as they wait for the start of a mass dance. (AP Photo)

Not surprisingly, their answers closely reflect the North Korean government's official statements.

From one, the suggestion that peace talks might work.

From another, a vow to kill every last American imperialist.

University students dressed in their traditional Korean dresses for the start of a mass dance. (AP Photo)

A university student wears a pair of rain boots with her traditional Korean dress as she waits in the rain for the start of a mass dance. (AP Photo)

Kim Hyo Sim, 21, student at Pyongyang City Commercial College:

"The U.S. is always putting sanctions on our country and is always trying to isolate us. But just as we won a victory under the leadership of our generalissimos (in the Korean War), we will win under the wise leadership of Marshal Kim Jong Un. I'd say our two countries are now under the same conditions of war as in the past, so I think the situation then and now isn't so different. Even though we don't want to have a war with anyone, if the U.S. provokes a war with our country we will surely win."

"Our country's national defenses have been strengthened and the U.S. has been viciously clinging to sanctions, so I think there is much more of a possibility of the U.S. provoking us now. But I'm also very confident of victory."

Kim Hyo Sim, 21, a student at Pyongyang City Commercial College. (AP Photo)

Kim Hyo Sim (AP Photo)

Jo Kwang Song, 29, an information technology major at Kim Il Sung University:

"As we are the young generation growing up, I don't think there will be a war because we have the supreme leader Kim Jong Un and strong national defense. The U.S. will not provoke a war against us. I'm not concerned at all because if a war is provoked against our country we will win.

"If war breaks out, I will take up a gun myself.

"Of course, we wish for peace. But, if the U.S. clings to provoking our country, peace will never come. The U.S. should come out for peaceful negotiations. Whatever, though, we will follow the marshal and we will always win. The U.S. should put an end to its hostile policy toward our country."

Jo Kwang Song, 29, a Kim Il Sung University student. (AP Photo)

Ri Su Jong, 18, also a student at Pyongyang City Commercial College:

"We will follow the orders of supreme leader Kim Jong Un. We have launched our ICBM and we will be fully prepared. If another war breaks out, we will be celebrating another great victory just like the one we are celebrating today."

"If the U.S. never touches us, then everything will be OK."

Ri Su Jong, 18, a student at Pyongyang City Commercial College. (AP Photo)

Jon Kuk Chol, 31, student at the Pyongyang Printing and Publishing University:

"Because our country possesses nuclear weapons and ICBMs, war won't break out. But if a war does break out, we will kill all the imperialists so that there won't even be anyone left alive to sign the papers of surrender."

Jon Kuk Chol, 31, a student at Pyongyang Print and Publishing University. (AP Photo)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea's military accused South Korea of flying drones across the border between the nations this week, warning Saturday that South Korea will face consequences for its “unpardonable hysteria.”

South Korea quickly denied the accusation. But the development is likely to further dim prospects for efforts by South Korea's liberal government to restore ties with North Korea.

North Korean forces used special electronic warfare assets on Sunday to bring down a South Korean drone flying over North Korea's border town. The drone was equipped with two cameras that filmed unspecified areas, the General Staff of the North's Korean People’s Army said in a statement carried by state media.

South Korea infiltrated another drone into North Korean airspace on Sept. 27 before it was forced to crash following electronic strikes by North Korea, the statement said, adding that authorities found the drone also contained video data on major objects in North Korea.

“We strongly denounce the hooligans’ serial outrageous encroachment upon our sovereignty and undisguised provocative acts against us,” the North Korean statement said. “The ROK military warmongers will be surely forced to pay a dear price for their unpardonable hysteria.”

The ROK is the abbreviated form of the Republic of Korea, South Korea's official name.

South Korea's Defense Ministry said it did not operate drones during the times specified by North Korea and doesn't even posses the types of drones that North Korea claimed were used.

Senior ministry official Kim Hong-Cheol said in a statement that authorities will investigate whether civilians flew the drones found in North Korea. He said South Korea has no intentions of provoking North Korea and will continue its efforts to build trust between the Koreas.

Since taking office in June, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has pushed hard to reopen talks with North Korea and reconcile the rivals. But North Korea has steadfastly rebuffed Lee's overtures.

Lee said Wednesday he asked Chinese President Xi Jinping to serve as a mediator to ease animosities between the two Koreas during their recent summit, and Xi called for patience.

North Korea has shunned talks with South Korea and the United States since leader Kim Jong Un’s high-stakes nuclear diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump fell apart in 2019 due to wrangling over U.S.-led sanctions. North Korea has since focused on building more powerful nuclear weapons and declared a hostile “two-state” system on the Korean Peninsula to terminate relations with South Korea.

Drone flights are a source of animosity between the two Koreas, with the rivals accusing each other of flying drones into their respective territories in recent years.

North Korea accused South Korea in October 2024 of flying drones over its capital, Pyongyang, to drop propaganda leaflets three times. South Korea’s military said it couldn’t confirm whether the North’s claim was true.

Tensions rose sharply at the time as North Korea threatened to respond with force, but neither side took any major action and tensions gradually subsided.

South Korea also has accused North Korea of occasionally flying drones over South Korea. In December 2022, South Korea announced it fired warning shots, scrambled fighter jets and flew surveillance drones over North Korea in response to what it called North Korea’s first drone flights across the border in five years.

North Korea's Kaepoong village is seen from Ganghwa, South Korea, near the border with North Korea, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Im Sun-suk/Yonhap via AP)

North Korea's Kaepoong village is seen from Ganghwa, South Korea, near the border with North Korea, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. (Im Sun-suk/Yonhap via AP)