South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Wednesday he feels an apology is due to North Korea over his predecessor’s alleged order to send drones and propaganda leaflets across the border. He added that he hesitates to say it publicly, fearing it could spark ideological battles or accusations of being pro-North.
Prosecutors have accused former President Yoon Suk Yeol of instructing the military to fly drones over Pyongyang and drop anti-North leaflets. They claim he planned to provoke the North to justify declaring martial law under the guise of a national emergency. Yoon was indicted last month on charges of aiding the enemy.
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North Korea claimed last year that Seoul flew drones to drop propaganda leaflets over its capital, although South Korea’s military has not confirmed this. Lee has taken steps to ease tensions since June, including removing loudspeakers along the border used to broadcast propaganda.
On Tuesday, South Korea’s parliament passed a law banning unmanned balloons in no-fly zones, which activists had used to send leaflets into North Korea. The move follows previous efforts to regulate leaflet drops, including a 2020 law that was struck down by the Constitutional Court in 2023 as limiting free speech.
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Lee’s comments come a year after Yoon’s actions briefly triggered national unrest. The president has emphasized his commitment to easing inter-Korean tensions while balancing public opinion and national security concerns.