South Korea’s defense ministry categorically denied that the Yoon administration sought to provoke armed conflict with North Korea to justify martial law, accusing those who make such “baseless allegations” of undermining national security.

In a statement to press on Monday, the spokesperson’s office rejected claims that the ministry planned preemptive strikes on North Korean balloon launch facilities, while alleging that critics have “echoed” DPRK claims about South Korean drone intrusions over Pyongyang.

The statement marks the ministry’s most detailed rebuttal to date of accusations about alleged “North Wind” operations aimed at provoking the DPRK, which opposition lawmakers say