Cheong Wa Dae on the 8th responded to Jang Kum-chol, North Korea's first vice foreign minister and Director General of the 10th Bureau, describing Korea as the "most hostile rival state," saying, "Condemnations and insulting language do not help peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula." Answering media questions that day regarding the "Jang Kum-chol statement," Cheong Wa Dae said, "The government will continue efforts toward peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula based on mutual respect," and added, "We hope the North will respond in kind."
Jang Kum-chol, North Korea's official in charge of inter-Korean relations, issued a statement late the previous night and dismissed as "wishful daydreaming" the interpretation in Korea that President Lee Jae-myung's expression of regret the previous day over the "intrusion by a North Korean drone" drew a positive response from the North. He added, "Korea's identity as the most hostile rival state of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea can never change no matter what words and actions its authorities take."
Jang's statement criticized the positive analysis in Korea, including at Cheong Wa Dae, that followed the statement released by Kim Yo-jong, the Workers' Party Central Committee Secretariat Department director, shortly after President Lee's expression of regret.
Earlier, on the morning of the 6th, President Lee said at a Cabinet meeting, "An unthinkable civilian drone incident occurred under this administration," and added, "We express regret to the North over the unnecessary military tension caused by the irresponsible and reckless actions of some." This was the first time President Lee expressed regret over the North Korean drone incident.
In response, Kim Yo-jong, the Secretariat Department director, assessed in a statement via the Korean Central News Agency that evening that it "showed the stance of a frank and bold person as head of state." She also said, "It is very fortunate that the president personally expressed regret and mentioned measures to prevent a recurrence, and we assess it as a wise step for his own sake."
Cheong Wa Dae then issued a notice to the press regarding Kim's statement, saying, "The government will continue efforts toward peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula," and added, "We hope this swift mutual confirmation of intentions between the two Koreas will contribute to peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula."
By contrast, in a statement released via the Korean Central News Agency on the 7th, the following day, Jang said, "The analyses in various circles in Korea, including Cheong Wa Dae, are truly ridiculous," and added, "If the Korean side takes our government's swift response as an 'exceptionally friendly reaction' and 'swift mutual confirmation of intentions between the leaders' and talks nonsense like a pipe dream, this too will go down as 'wishful daydreaming' by foolish idiots that astonishes the world."