Kim Jong Un Praises South Korea’s Lee Over Drone Apology

Mintesinot Nigussie

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un offered rare praise for South Korean President Lee Jae Myung after Lee expressed regret over unauthorised drone flights that crossed into North Korean airspace. The apology, conveyed through South Korea’s Cabinet and public statements, addressed incidents occurring between September 2025 and January 2026.

Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency that Lee’s apology demonstrated “a frank and broad-minded man’s attitude” and described his efforts to prevent future incidents as “very fortunate and wise.”

The drone incursions had previously drawn warnings from North Korea, which claimed that at least one drone was shot down after crossing the heavily guarded border. Lee’s expression of regret marked the first direct apology from the South Korean leader regarding the incidents.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry said Pyongyang’s response was a meaningful development in reducing tensions on the peninsula, highlighting the value of direct communication to prevent escalation.

Despite the positive exchange, both nations remain technically at war, as the Korean War ended in 1953 with an armistice, not a peace treaty. The rare praise from Kim Jong Un represents a notable shift in tone from earlier months of hostile rhetoric.

Businesses and investors monitoring the Korean peninsula see the exchange as a potential sign of easing tensions that could benefit cross-border trade and investment opportunities in the region.

The development underscores the importance of diplomatic gestures in managing sensitive border issues between the two Koreas.

Overall, Kim Jong Un’s praise for the South Korean president’s apology marks a rare positive moment in inter-Korean relations amid ongoing technical state of war.