Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Department Director of the Workers' Party of Korea. Korean Central News Agency·Yonhap News

On the 19th, Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Department Director of the Workers' Party of Korea, stated regarding the apology by Minister Jeong Dong-yeong of the Ministry of Unification for the South Korean drone infiltration into the North that she “highly values it.” The North issued its position the day after Minister Jeong made his announcement. While hinting at strengthened vigilance over the inter-Korean border and defining the South as an “enemy state,” it did not signal any intention to improve the hostile relationship.

In a statement released the same day by the North's official outlet, the Korean Central News Agency, she said, “I highly value that Jeong Dong-yeong, South Korean Minister of the Ministry of Unification, on the 18th officially acknowledged the drone provocation by the South Korean side that violated our national airspace and, once again, expressed regret together with a will to prevent recurrence.”

This was the response from the North to the previous day, the final day of the Lunar New Year holidays, when Minister Jeong, saying, “For a new inter-Korean relationship, we need the courage to admit it when each side has done wrong,” issued an official apology for a civilian drone infiltration into the North during the Lee Jae Myung administration and for a drone infiltration by the military authorities during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. Kim Yo-jong is the sister of North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, and her statement is effectively regarded as a message from Chairman Kim.

However, continuing warning remarks, she showed hostility toward the South, which she characterized as a “relationship between two hostile states.” She said, “Naturally, one should not do foolish things that place oneself in danger,” adding, “I emphasize again that, whoever the actor is and by whatever means, when acts that infringe upon the sovereignty of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) recur, there will be a confrontation with a horrific situation.” She said, “This is not a threat but a clear warning.”

She said, “It is entirely for the preservation of South Korea itself to devise guarantee measures that can reliably prevent a recurrence of such a grave provocation infringing sovereignty as this time.” She continued, “Our military leadership will take measures to strengthen vigilance over the entire southern border of the Republic that adjoins South Korea,” adding, “The border with an enemy state must, as a matter of course, be firm.”

Although the South, along with a peaceful message, announced moves to restore the 9·19 inter-Korean military agreement, including establishing no-fly zones in border areas, the North appears to have responded by showing a hostile posture and strengthening military readiness. It is interpreted as drawing a line against the attempt by the South to open the way to improving inter-Korean relations, using the apology over drone incursions as a starting point. At a press conference the previous day, Minister Jeong said, “Tomorrow happens to be Usu, when even the waters of the Daedong River in Pyongyang are said to thaw,” adding, “If both sides sit down with sincerity, trust between the South and the North will be restored as ice blocks melt away in the spring season.”