DPRK calls ROK president's statement over drone incursion 'wise'

A senior official of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Monday responded positively to the regret expressed by Republic of Korea (ROK) President Lee Jae Myung over a drone incursion into DPRK airspace, calling his remarks "a wise course of action," state media reported.

Kim Yo Jong, department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, made the comments the same day Lee expressed personal regret over the incident and ordered measures to prevent a recurrence, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, citing her statement.

"Our head of state commented it as a manifestation of frank and broad-minded man's attitude," the statement said.

The ROK side should stop any reckless provocation against the DPRK and refrain from any attempt at contact," it added, warning that Seoul "must once again bear in mind that if provocative incidents infringing upon our state's inalienable sovereignty recur, they will pay an unbearable price."

President Lee Jae Myung on Monday expressed regret to the DPRK over the drone incident.

Lee told a cabinet meeting that although it was not the intention of the ROK government, he, in his capacity as president, expressed regret for the unnecessary military tensions caused by what he described as irresponsible and reckless actions by a few individuals.

It marked the first time since the incident came to light that the ROK leader has expressed regret toward the DPRK.

At the government level, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young in February formally expressed regret to the DPRK over unauthorized civilian drone flights into the DPRK airspace.

(Cover: A file photo of Kim Yo Jong. /VCG)