Lee Jae-myung, the President of South Korea, expressed regret to North Korea over private drones crossing the border. He had previously criticized such actions multiple times. “I am deeply saddened that individuals have committed such provocations against North Korea,” he noted at a cabinet meeting, adding that such actions are unacceptable.
According to the Chosun newspaper, this is the first time that a South Korean leader has officially expressed regret regarding North Korea over the drone incident. On March 1, Lee Jae-myung emphasized that the intrusion of drones into North Korean territory is a “serious threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula.” In January, he also stated that launching drones towards North Korea could be considered the beginning of war.
Last week, the South Korean prosecution filed charges against three individuals who launched drones across the border from September 2025 to January 2026. Among the accused are a 30-year-old graduate student, an employee of the National Intelligence Service, and a military officer.
