Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, on Monday called South Korean President Lee Jae Myung “frank and broad-minded” after he expressed regret over drone incursions into the North. Kim is seen here at a ceremony in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2019. File Pool Photo by Jorge Silva/EPA-EFE
Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, on Monday described South Korean President Lee Jae Myung as “frank and broad-minded” after he expressed regret over unauthorized drone incursions into the North, in a rare conciliatory remark from Pyongyang.
Lee addressed the issue earlier Monday during a Cabinet meeting, following last week’s indictment of three individuals accused of carrying out incursions between September and January.
“Although this was not an act by our government, I express regret to the North Korean side over the unnecessary military tension caused by such reckless behavior,” Lee said during the meeting.
In a statement carried by state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim said Pyongyang “appreciated it as a very fortunate and wise behavior for its own sake.”
“Our head of state commented it as a manifestation of a frank and broad-minded man’s attitude,” she added.
North Korea in January accused the South of violating its airspace with multiple drone flights, including one on Jan. 4 that it said had photographed key facilities before being shot down.
South Korean prosecutors last week indicted three civilians in connection with the alleged incursions. An employee of the National Intelligence Service and two active-duty military officers were also referred to the prosecution Tuesday for their alleged roles in the drone flights.
Kim’s remarks struck a less hostile tone than recent statements from Pyongyang, but still included a warning to the South to “stop any reckless provocation against the DPRK” and to “refrain from any attempt at contact.”
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is the official name of North Korea.
President Lee has sought to ease inter-Korean tensions since taking office in June, calling for the resumption of dialogue and making conciliatory gestures such as dismantling border propaganda loudspeakers.
Pyongyang has rebuffed those overtures, with Kim Jong Un last month declaring South Korea the “most hostile state” in a parliamentary address.
Seoul on Tuesday described the exchange as a positive signal.
“The fact that the leaders of North and South Korea quickly confirmed their intention to stop unnecessary military tension escalation activities and that communication took place was evaluated as meaningful progress toward peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula,” the Unification Ministry said in a statement to reporters.
