N. Korea's Kim Yo-jong calls Lee 'frank, broad-minded' for his regret over drone incident

Kim Yo-jong, a sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, attends a wreath-laying ceremony at Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum in Hanoi, Vietnam, March 2, 2019. AP-Yonhap

Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, said Monday the leader Kim described President Lee Jae Myung as "frank and broad-minded" following Lee's expression of regret over unauthorized drone flights into the North.

Earlier in the day, Lee expressed regret over the incident at a Cabinet meeting, saying "Although this was not an act by our government, I express regret to the North Korean side over the unnecessary military tension caused by such reckless behavior."

In a statement released by the North's state media under her name, Kim, who serves as department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party, said Pyongyang "appreciated it as a very fortunate and wise behavior."

"Our head of state commented on it as a manifestation of a frank and broad-minded man's attitude," the statement read.

However, she also warned Seoul "should stop any reckless provocation" against Pyongyang and "refrain from any attempt at contact, instead of paying lip-service to the utmost importance of peace and security."

Late Monday, Cheong Wa Dae said it "hopes the swift inter-Korean exchange of views will contribute to peace on the Korean Peninsula," adding that the government will "continue to work toward peaceful coexistence."