Seoul: South Korean President Lee Jae-myung apologized for private individuals launching drones towards North Korea during a government meeting. "Although the government was not responsible, I apologize to the North for the unnecessary military tensions caused by this reckless behavior," the president said.

According to Burkina Information Agency, in early January, the North Korean military reported that drones launched from South Korea had violated its airspace on September 27 and January 4. The South Korean armed forces denied any involvement, and authorities opened an investigation, suspecting the actions of private individuals.

At the time, a 30-year-old man claimed in the media that he had launched drones in North Korea between September and January to measure radiation levels at North Korean nuclear sites. South Korean prosecutors have since charged three civilians, including this man, with aiding the enemy. Authorities are also investigating possible links between these individuals and military intelligence officers.

Pyongyang had demanded an apology from Seoul for these incidents.