Lee Jae Myung says he felt he should apologize for the drone flights his predecessor ordered as a provocation.
Published on December 3, 2025
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has said he has apologized to Pyongyang for provocations across the border allegedly ordered by his predecessor.
Lee said on Wednesday that he felt it was appropriate to apologize to former President Yoon Suk-yeol for allegedly ordering drones carrying propaganda leaflets to the North last month to stoke tension and boost political support.
Recommended stories
4 List of itemsEnd of list
The comments came on the eve of Yun’s ill-fated anniversary in Seoul Declaration of martial lawwhich was motivated by a similar motive but instead caused a deeper crisis in South Korea.
Lee has called for dialogue with Pyongyang after becoming president, but the North’s leader Kim Jong Un has so far ignored his proposals.
“I think I should apologize, but I’m hesitant to say it out loud,” Lee said at a press conference in Seoul.
“I am worried that if I do, it could be used as fodder for ideological battles or accusations of being pro-North,” he added.
North Korea accused the Yun government of flying drones over Pyongyang to drop propaganda leaflets three times in October 2024.
South Korean media reported on Monday that the military also launched balloons carrying propaganda leaflets across the border during the former administration’s tenure.
deep division
Lee’s comments came on the anniversary of Yun’s bid to establish martial law.
The decree plunged South Korea into an unprecedented crisis that forced protesters and lawmakers to vote against the measure.
The Supreme Court promptly declared it unconstitutional.
Yun was subsequently impeached and removed from office and remains in prison awaiting trial. Rebellion and other charges Arising from his failed martial law attempt.
However, South Korea has been deeply divided by the stunt, with those angered by Yoon’s actions aligning themselves with supporters of his hardline approach in the North and claiming that South Korea’s democracy is under attack from its political rivals.
Opposition marches were held in Seoul on Wednesday to mark the anniversary.
dialogue
Lee, a liberal who won a snap presidential election after Yun was ousted in April this year, told reporters he was eager to improve relations with Pyongyang.
Since taking office in June, he has taken several measures to ease tensions, including removing propaganda loudspeakers at the border.
On Tuesday, Seoul passed a law banning activists from flying balloons carrying propaganda leaflets into the North.
But North Korea has so far rebuffed Lee’s efforts, with Kim saying his government is not interested in dialogue.
Despite this, the South Korean president said he would stay put. He suggested that the suspension of regular military drills with the United States, which Pyongyang has blamed, could be a way to consider encouraging the North to resume talks.
Lee expressed hope that US President Donald Trump – “a realist, pragmatist and a master of dealmaking who respects his counterparts” – could help convince the North that Pyongyang appeared to take Washington more seriously than Seoul.