These things take a little time to understand.
I would have expected this out of Korea as a group, as a government statement, within at least one day, and sure enough, it came.
Generally, on a personal level, many Americans will not even apologize for something when they are clearly wrong...it is usually followed by a stammering, "but, but, but" as an added on excuse. That translates to a national level. In Asia, on the other hand, people apologize all over the place even if they are remotely connected. Gone to extremes, self remorse over one's actions can end up as suicide.
My, a whole book could be written on the contrasts of Occidental vs. Oriental "apologies".
I didn't read the article, but the headline sounds like a preemptive accusation of retribution rather than an apology. Hopefully, you are correct and it was simply an apology which was misinterpreted.
Which helps to explain the rumor, started in South Korea, that Cho's parents had committed suicide. It somewhat seemed to me to have the flavor of a wish on the part of many South Koreans that they would do so, to end the shame and dishonor they are perceived to have heaped on their country of origin.