Lee apologized earlier Monday for at least two incidents in which drones crossed the border into North Korea, saying they were carried out by civilians in violation of government policy and amounted to an act of “rebellion” against their country.Pyongyang accused Seoul of sending drones into its airspace, calling it a dangerous provocation and saying it shot them down.Our government appreciates this as very fortunate and wise behavior in itself,” Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said in a statement carried by KCNA, according to Reuters.Kim Yo Jong also said that Kim Jong Un viewed Lee’s statements as “a manifestation of a man’s frank and broad-minded attitude.”
Lee says the investigation found a National Intelligence Service official and an active-duty soldier involved in the incidents
At a Cabinet meeting, Lee said the investigation found that a National Intelligence Service (NIS) employee and an active-duty military official were involved in the drone incidents, adding that their actions violated South Korea’s constitution, which prohibits acts of provocation against the North.
“Although it was not our government’s intention, we express our regret to North Korea that the unnecessary military tensions were caused by the irresponsible and reckless actions of some individuals,” Lee said.Seoul initially denied any official role in the January drone incursion, suggesting it may have been the work of civilians, but Lee later said the investigation confirmed the involvement of government officials. Pyongyang claimed to have shot down a drone carrying “surveillance equipment” in early January, and in February warned of a “horrific response” if more drones crossed the border.
A thaw is rare after years of hostility, but broader tensions remain
North Korea’s comments represent a sharp contrast to recent years, when Pyongyang described Seoul as its “most hostile enemy” and abandoned the long-sought goal of eventual unification.Lee has made several initiatives to improve relations since taking office in June, saying peace is the best path to prosperity for both Koreas.Lee sought to mend ties after the term of former President Yeon Suk-yeol, whose administration was accused of sending drones into the North to spark a violent backlash. During Yoon’s presidency, relations deteriorated sharply, as North Korea responded to propaganda leaflets by sending balloons filled with garbage across the border.The two Koreas are still technically at war because the conflict that took place between 1950 and 1953 ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.
