North Korea says South Korea’s Lee is ‘wise’ for expressing regret about drones
SEOUL, April 6 (Reuters) – North Korea said on Monday it was “very fortunate and wise” for South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to convey his regrets to Pyongyang over the drone strikes in a rare conciliatory gesture towards a rival with whom he has been feuding in recent years.
Earlier Monday, Lee expressed regret over at least two incidents of cross-border drone strikes that civilians said violated government policy, calling it an act of “rebellion” against their own country.
Pyongyang accused Seoul of a serious provocation, saying drones sent from the South violated its airspace and said it shot them down.
“Our government appreciated this as a very fortunate and wise behavior for its own sake,” Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said in a statement carried by the KCNA state news agency, referring to Lee’s remarks.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un considered it “a manifestation of the attitude of an outspoken and open-minded man.” Kim Yo Jong often makes comments on Pyongyang’s foreign policy issues that are believed to reflect her sister’s views.
The comments were in stark contrast to Pyongyang’s harsh attacks in recent years, calling it its “most hostile enemy” and that it can no longer pursue its goal of eventual unification.
The two Koreas are technically at war after the 1950-53 armed conflict ended with a ceasefire.
Lee stated that the investigation found that a National Intelligence Service (NIS) employee and an active-duty military officer were involved in drone incidents, adding that these violated South Korea’s constitution, which prohibits provocative actions against North Korea.
Lee told the cabinet meeting: “Although this was not our government’s intention, we express our regret to the North for the unnecessary military tensions caused by the irresponsible and reckless actions of some individuals.”
Since taking office in June, Lee has made several overtures to the North to improve relations, which are among the worst in decades, and has said peace is the best policy for both sides to achieve prosperity.
(Reporting by Kyu-seok Shim, Cynthia Kim, Jack Kim, Editing by Ed Davies and Keith Weir)
