South Korea’s Lee regrets drones sent to North: ‘irresponsible and reckless’

Fragments of a drone lie scattered on the ground in Muksan-ri, North Korea, after being shot down on January 4.

Photo: KCNA/Reuters South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret to Pyongyang on Monday over drones sent into North Korea earlier this year, actions he called “irresponsible”.

South Korea initially denied any official role in the January drone incursion – with authorities suggesting it was the work of civilians – but Lee said an investigation had revealed government officials had been involved. “Although this was not the intention of our government, we express our regret to the North that unnecessary military tensions were caused by the irresponsible and reckless actions of a few individuals,” Lee said during a cabinet meeting.

North Korea warned in February of a “terrible response” if it detected more drones crossing the border from the South, prompting Seoul to investigate the claims.

A composite of images taken on January 4 shows wreckage of a drone that North Korea claims originated from South Korea.

Photo: KCNA/AFP Pyongyang said it downed a drone carrying “surveillance equipment” in early January.

Photos released by state media showed the wreckage of a winged craft scattered across the ground alongside grey and blue components that allegedly included cameras. “It has been confirmed that a National Intelligence Service official and an active-duty soldier were involved,” Lee told a cabinet meeting. “We express regret to the North over the unnecessary military tensions caused by the irresponsible and reckless actions of some individuals.” The remarks came after the indictment of a graduate student surnamed Oh, who was taken into custody and charged with benefiting an enemy state and violating the Aviation Safety Act by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office on March 25.

On March 31, a joint military-police task force subsequently announced that a National Intelligence Service employee and two active-duty military officers had been referred to prosecutors for allegedly helping Oh send the drones across the border between September last year and January. “The South Korean law prohibits individuals from privately provoking the North.

It is deeply regrettable that someone carried out this kind of private provocation against the North,” Lee said. “Residents in the border regions must have been more anxious than anyone else because of this incident.

I ask the relevant ministries to immediately improve the system and take en

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