SEOUL, South Korea — President Lee Jae Myung announced Wednesday he is considering issuing a formal apology to North Korea regarding allegations that his predecessor, ousted conservative leader Yoon Suk Yeol, deliberately escalated military tensions between the divided nations. The remarks came on the first anniversary of Yoon’s failed attempt to declare martial law in December 2024.
Lee, a liberal who assumed office following Yoon’s removal in April, emphasized his administration’s commitment to rebuilding diplomatic channels with Pyongyang. However, he faced immediate criticism when questioned about North Korea’s detention of six South Korean nationals, admitting he lacked awareness of their cases—a statement that stunned relatives and human rights advocates.
Recent investigations have revealed that Yoon’s administration allegedly authorized drone operations over North Korean territory and propaganda leaflet campaigns via balloons. While these claims remain unproven in court, Lee expressed personal willingness to apologize, though he acknowledged concerns about being labeled pro-North Korean in South Korea’s politically charged environment.
Since June, President Lee has implemented several confidence-building measures, including deactivating border loudspeakers and prohibiting activist balloon launches. Despite these overtures, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has consistently rejected dialogue offers. Lee suggested that suspending joint military exercises with the United States—long criticized by Pyongyang as invasion rehearsals—could be considered to encourage renewed talks.
The press conference took an unexpected turn when Lee appeared unfamiliar with the cases of six South Koreans detained in North Korea, including Christian missionaries arrested between 2013-2014 on charges of espionage and subversion, and North Korean defectors. Family members expressed profound disappointment, with one relative stating they pray daily for their loved one’s return.
Lee reflected on the December 2024 constitutional crisis, crediting public resistance with thwarting what he termed Yoon’s ‘self-coup.’ He described how thousands of citizens surrounded the National Assembly to support lawmakers in overturning the brief martial law declaration. Yoon currently faces trial on rebellion charges and allegations that he manufactured tensions with North Korea to justify domestic military action.