South Korean President Weighs Offering Apology to North

Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda and Eric Kikomeko at 1447 EAT on Wednesday 3 December 2025

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said Wednesday he is considering apologising to Pyongyang over cross-border provocations that prosecutors allege were ordered by his predecessor.

His remarks follow the indictment last month of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is accused of directing drones loaded with anti-North Korean leaflets to fly across the border in a bid to escalate tensions and shore up his political standing, according to prosecutors.

The remarks came as Seoul marked the anniversary of former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s ill-fated declaration of martial law, a move widely seen as driven by similar political motives and one that plunged South Korea into a deep domestic crisis.

President Lee Jae-myung has sought dialogue with Pyongyang since taking office, but his outreach has so far been met with silence from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

“I feel I should apologise, but I hesitate to say it out loud,” Lee told a news conference in Seoul.
“I worry that if I do, it could be used as fodder for ideological battles or accusations of being pro-North.”

North Korea has accused Yoon’s government of sending drones over Pyongyang to drop propaganda leaflets on three occasions in October 2024. South Korean media reported on Monday that the military had also deployed balloons carrying propaganda materials across the border during Yoon’s administration.

Deep divide

Lee’s comments come on the anniversary of Yoon’s attempt to impose martial law, a decree that triggered an unprecedented political crisis. Protesters and lawmakers swarmed the National Assembly to force a vote against the order, underscoring the intense divisions that continue to shape South Korean politics.

Reporting by Al Jazeera

Former President Yoon Suk-yeol was subsequently impeached and removed from office, and is now in prison awaiting trial on insurrection and other charges linked to his failed attempt to impose martial law.

South Korea remains sharply polarised over the episode. Public anger at Yoon’s actions is matched by support from conservatives who back his hardline stance on North Korea and insist that the South’s democracy faces threats from his political opponents.

Rival marches were held in Seoul on Wednesday as the anniversary was commemorated.

Dialogue

President Lee Jae-myung, a liberal who won a snap election in April following Yoon’s removal from office, told reporters he is eager to repair relations with Pyongyang.

Since taking office in June, Lee has taken several steps aimed at lowering tensions, including removing propaganda loudspeakers along the border.

On Tuesday, the National Assembly passed a law banning activists from sending balloons carrying propaganda leaflets into the North.

But Pyongyang has so far rejected Lee’s outreach, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un saying his government has no interest in dialogue.

Despite the lack of progress, Lee said he intends to continue his efforts. He suggested that suspending regular joint military drills with the United States — exercises Pyongyang routinely denounces as provocations — could be considered as a way to encourage the North back to the negotiating table.

Lee also expressed hope that U.S. President Donald Trump, whom he described as “a realist, pragmatist, and master of dealmaking who respects his counterparts,” could help persuade Pyongyang, saying the North appeared to take Washington more seriously than Seoul.

Invest or Donate towards HICGI New Agency Global Media Establishment – Watch video here