On January 18, South Korea's government issued an official expression of regret regarding the recent incursions of civilian drones from North Korea, coinciding with the last day of the Lunar New Year holiday. The announcement came during a press conference led by Unification Minister Jeong Dong-kyung, where he outlined the government's stance and three main preventive measures to avoid future incidents. This decision appears to be a strategic move, coming just before a significant policy announcement by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the upcoming 9th Congress of the Workers' Party.

Minister Jeong revealed that the investigation by a joint military and police task force indicated that civilian drones from the North have penetrated South Korean airspace on at least four occasions since the current administration took office. Notably, the government acknowledged incursions not only on the dates mentioned by North Korea but also on two additional occasions in November. In his remarks, Jeong emphasized the need for both Koreas to acknowledge their wrongdoings in order to foster a new relationship, expressing deep regret over multiple drone provocations attributed to the prior administration.

To prevent further incidents, the South Korean government announced three key measures: the establishment of designated no-fly zones in border areas, strengthening legal and institutional frameworks for penalizing military provocations, and enhancing cooperation with local governments in border communities. Jeong asserted that these measures aim to prevent accidental clashes and build military trust between the two Koreas. The government plans to proactively review and push for the restoration of the 9/19 military agreement, reiterating its commitment to ensuring peace and security in border regions with a forthcoming announcement on no-fly zone policies at an appropriate time.