South Korean President Intends To Apologize To North Korea About The Eid Of Propaganda And Its Previous Drones

JAKARTA - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is considering the possibility of an apology to North Korea for his predecessor's suspicions of deliberately trying to increase military tensions between the two countries in preparation for his brief military emergency declaration in December 2024.

Speaking to reporters on the one-year anniversary of the failed power struggle by former President Yoon Suk Yeol, Lee stressed his desire to improve relations with North Korea.

However, when asked about the detention of several South Korean nationals over the years by North Korea, Lee said he was not aware of the matter, which drew criticism from families demanding that they be sent home safely.

A special prosecutor last month charged Yoon and two of his top defense officials on charges that he ordered drone/drone flights over North Korea to spark tensions.

South Korean media also reported on Monday that the South Korean military under Yoon's leadership flew balloons carrying propaganda leaflets across the border.

Lee is considering an apology to North Korea

Although allegations of drones and leaflets spreading have not been proven in court, Lee still said he personally wanted to apologize to North Korea.

"I think we need to apologize, but I can't say it yet because I'm afraid it can be used to defame (me) as a pro-North Korea or spark political ideological disputes" in South Korea, Lee said as quoted by the Associated Press, Wednesday, December 3.

"That's all I'm going to say for now," he continued.

North Korea has publicly accused the Yoon government of flying drones over Pyongyang to distribute anti-North Korea propaganda leaflets three times in October 2024. The South Korean military declined to confirm the claims, and any public recognition of reconnaissance activities in North Korea would be very unusual.

Since taking office in June, Lee has taken proactive steps to ease inter-Korean tensions, including turning off frontline loudspeakers broadcasting K-pop news and the world, as well as barring activists from flying balloons carrying propaganda leaflets across the border.

North Korea has so far ignored Lee's invitation, with leader Kim Jong Un declaring his government not interested in having a dialogue with Seoul.