JAKARTA – The younger brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Monday praised the apology made by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung regarding the drone incident in January.
President Lee on Monday expressed regret to Pyongyang over the drone sent to North Korea earlier this year, a move he called “irresponsible.”
“The South Korean president personally expressed his regret and spoke about measures to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents. Our government appreciates this as a very fortunate and wise behavior for their own interests,” Kim Yo Jong said in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), using the official name of South Korea, reported Al Arabiya from AFP (6/4).
Initially, the Ginseng State denied any official role in the January drone attack, with authorities saying it was the work of civilians. However, President Lee said the investigation had revealed government officials had been involved.
North Korea warned in February of a “horrible response” if it detected more drones crossing the border from South Korea, prompting Seoul to investigate the claims.
Pyongyang said it had shot down a drone carrying “surveillance equipment” in early January.
Photos released by state media showed the wreckage of the winged craft strewn on the ground along with gray and blue components that were allegedly including cameras.
“It has been confirmed that a National Intelligence Service official and an active soldier were involved,” President Lee said at a cabinet meeting.
“We express our regret to North Korea for the unnecessary military tension caused by the irresponsible and reckless actions of some individuals,” he continued.
He added that South Korea’s constitution prohibits private individuals from taking actions that could “provoke North Korea.”
“Such actions, even when deemed necessary for national strategy, must be approached with great caution,” President Lee said.
Kim himself said his brother, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, had accepted Lee’s statement “as a manifestation of the attitude of an honest and open-minded man,” but warned Seoul to “stop any reckless provocation against the DPRK and refrain from any contact attempts,” using the initials of North Korea’s official name.
“South Korea should realize that they will be forced to pay the price if provocations such as the infringement of our country’s inalienable sovereignty occur again,” Kim warned.
President Lee is known to have sought to improve relations with North Korea since taking office last year, criticizing his predecessor for allegedly sending drones to spread propaganda in Pyongyang.
However, repeated attempts did not get a response from North Korea.
Separately, former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is on trial for allegations that his government sent drones to North Korea to provoke a reaction and create an excuse to declare a military government.
Yoon was impeached and removed from office in April last year and sentenced to life in prison for his declaration of martial law.
During Yoon’s presidency, relations between Seoul and Pyongyang hit a low point, with North Korea sending balloons filled with rubbish, including animal feces, in response to propaganda leaflets sent north by South Korean-based activists, many of whom are North Korean defectors.
Technically, the two Koreas are still at war, as the 1950-53 conflict ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty, and both impose military service on men.
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