The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un accused the South of causing a COVID-19 outbreak in the country and warned of "retaliation" as Pyongyang declared "victory" over its outbreak, state media said on Thursday.
North Korea has previously said that "alien things" near the border with the South caused the COVID-19 outbreak in the isolated country, a claim that Seoul has rejected.
Despite a ban that took effect in 2021, South Korean activists have for years flown balloons containing propaganda leaflets and US dollars over the border, which Pyongyang has long protested against.
On Thursday, Mr Kim's sister, Yo Jong, blamed these activities for the country's COVID-19 outbreak, saying they were a "crime against humanity", the official Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.
She said that many countries — and the World Health Organisation — have acknowledged "the danger of spreading an infectious disease through contacting contaminated objects", according to the report.
"It is very worrisome that South Korea is sending leaflets, money, sloppy brochures and items into our region," she said.
Ms Yo Jong warned that Pyongyang was considering "a strong retaliatory response", adding that if the balloons continued, "we will respond by eradicating not only the virus, but also the South Korean authorities".
Seoul last month said there have been "no officially verified cases of Covid infections via post or materials".
Mr Kim's comments come as her brother declared a "shining victory" in the battle against COVID-19, after officials reported no new cases of the virus for nearly two weeks.
North Korea has one of the world's worst healthcare systems, with poorly equipped hospitals, few intensive care units, and no COVID-19 treatment drugs or vaccines, experts say.
Even Mr Kim apparently suffered from COVID-19, according to Ms Yo Jong's comments.
Mr Kim "was suffering from high fever during the days of this quarantine war, but he could not lie down for a moment as he was thinking about the people he was responsible for", his sister said.
