South Korean President Lee Jae Myung Considers Apology to North Korea Amid Predecessor's Provocation Trial

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is reportedly considering an official apology to Pyongyang regarding alleged cross-border provocations ordered by his predecessor, former President Yoon Suk-yeol. This potential diplomatic overture comes as Yoon faces trial for allegedly orchestrating drone flights into North Korean airspace.

washingtonpost.com reported, The alleged provocations involved drones carrying propaganda leaflets, which prosecutors claim were intended to escalate tensions and bolster political support for Yoon. The former president was indicted on charges related to these actions, with his trial commencing on December 1, 2025.

President Lee's contemplation of an apology coincides with the first anniversary of Yoon Suk-yeol's failed martial law attempt on December 3, 2024. This controversial declaration ultimately led to Yoon's impeachment and removal from office, paving the way for Lee's presidency.

koreaherald.com noted, The current administration, led by the liberal Lee Jae Myung, seeks to repair strained inter-Korean relations that deteriorated significantly under Yoon's conservative leadership. Lee has previously taken steps to de-escalate tensions, including halting propaganda broadcasts.

However, President Lee acknowledged that issuing such an apology carries domestic political risks, fearing it could be misconstrued as being "pro-North Korean" or ignite ideological conflicts within South Korea. Despite these concerns, he indicated a personal inclination towards making amends.

koreatimes.co.kr reported, North Korea, for its part, has largely maintained a dismissive stance towards Seoul's recent peace overtures. Leader Kim Jong Un has indicated his government has little interest in dialogue, presenting a challenge to Lee's efforts to foster reconciliation.

• The alleged cross-border provocations by former President Yoon Suk-yeol's administration involved South Korean military drones flying into North Korean airspace in October 2024. North Korea publicly accused Seoul of these incursions on October 11, 2024, claiming drones dropped anti-regime leaflets over Pyongyang on multiple dates. Prosecutors argue these actions were a deliberate attempt to provoke a North Korean response, which could then be used to justify Yoon's martial law declaration.

• washingtonpost.com noted, Yoon Suk-yeol's declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024, at 10:27 PM KST, was a pivotal moment in South Korean politics. He accused the opposition Democratic Party of "anti-state activities" and collaborating with "North Korean communists," suspending legislative functions and restricting the press. This move was widely condemned as an attempted self-coup, and the National Assembly swiftly voted to nullify it within hours, leading to Yoon's retraction of the order.

• Following the failed martial law attempt, the National Assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against Yoon Suk-yeol. A second impeachment motion successfully passed on December 14, 2024, with 204 votes in favor, leading to the suspension of his presidential powers. The Constitutional Court subsequently upheld his impeachment in a unanimous 8-0 decision on April 4, 2025, officially removing him from office and triggering a snap presidential election.

• koreaherald.com reported, Lee Jae Myung, a prominent figure from the liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), was elected as South Korea's 14th president in the snap election held on June 3, 2025. A former human rights lawyer and Governor of Gyeonggi Province, Lee's victory marked a significant shift in the nation's political landscape, following his narrow loss to Yoon Suk-yeol in the 2022 presidential election.

• President Lee's approach to North Korea is characterized by "pragmatic diplomacy" and an "Exchange, Normalization, and Denuclearization" (END) initiative, as reported by The Diplomat on November 6, 2025. Since taking office, he has implemented measures aimed at reducing inter-Korean tensions, including discontinuing frontline loudspeaker broadcasts and banning civilian groups from sending propaganda leaflets, actions that contrast sharply with his predecessor's hardline stance.

• koreatimes.co.kr noted, The history of propaganda leaflet campaigns between the two Koreas is extensive, with both state and non-governmental actors utilizing balloons for distribution. While a South Korean law banning activist leaflet launches was struck down by the Constitutional Court in September 2023 due to free speech concerns, a former soldier testified to The Hankyoreh on December 2, 2025, that the South Korean military's psychological operations unit had secretly engaged in leaflet dispersal from October 2023.

• The ongoing trial of former President Yoon Suk-yeol for his alleged role in the drone provocations and the broader martial law crisis highlights the severe legal and political ramifications of his actions. Yoon and two former senior defense officials face charges including general espionage and abuse of authority, with prosecutors asserting the drone operations were part of a larger scheme to justify martial law.