Minister Chung Dong-young of the Ministry of Unification said on the 10th, "We express deep regret to the North regarding the reckless drone incursion that occurred this time."
The Minister expressed this position in congratulatory remarks at the Mass for "reconciliation and unity of the nation" held at Myeongdong Cathedral that evening. This is the first time a senior government official has expressed regret to North Korea over North Korean drones.
The Ministry of Unification said the Minister's expression of regret is limited to the drones that North Korea claimed intruded on the 4th of last month and in September last year. On the 13th of last month, Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of the North's Workers' Party, said that "the Seoul authorities must apologize" in connection with the drone incursion.
Chung said, "Our calm daily lives were shaken once again by the recent drone incident," adding, "Today, the joint military–police investigation task force (TF) additionally detected charges of the general crime of benefiting the enemy under the Criminal Act, in addition to the Aviation Safety Act, against three civilians who flew drones toward North Korea in border areas, and booked an active-duty service member and a National Intelligence Service (NIS) employee, conducting searches and seizures."
He emphasized that North Korea expressed regret toward Korea and pledged to prevent a recurrence both during the 2015 "box mine" incident and the 2020 "shooting of a West Sea public official" incident.
He criticized the "Pyongyang drone incursion" that occurred during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, saying it "induced an attack against the South," and calling it "a reckless and extremely dangerous act that nearly led to war, and a very unfortunate incident that must never happen again."
He added, "To prevent such unfortunate situations, the Sept. 19 military agreement, which pledged a complete halt to hostile acts on land, at sea, and in the air, must be restored as soon as possible," stressing that "hostile acts in the air must be stopped immediately."
When asked by reporters whether the expression of regret over North Korea's drones was made in communication with the presidential office, he said it was "the Ministry of Unification's judgment."
The Minister also noted on the 10th anniversary of the suspension of operations at the Kaesong Industrial Complex that day, "The unilateral suspension and shutdown of the complex was a foolish decision that shattered inter-Korean trust and left a deep wound in the hearts of the people," adding, "We express deep regret."