Former South Korean President Accused of Ordering Drone Launch Into North Korea

South Korea is currently investigating the launch of a military drone into North Korea that occurred during Yoon Suk-yeol’s presidency.

According to the South Korean news agency Yonhap, a special prosecutor probing the possible declaration of martial law by former President Yoon conducted searches on Monday at the Drone Operations Command (DOC) and the Ministry of National Defense. This marks an expansion of the investigation, which may now include charges of treason.

Special prosecutor Cho Eun-suk suspects that Yoon ordered the military to send drones to Pyongyang in October last year with the intent to provoke North Korea.

It is believed that this operation was carried out with the aim of using it as a pretext to declare martial law on December 3, 2024, which was blocked by a vote in the National Assembly just a few hours after the announcement.

According to officials, the special prosecutor has sent investigators to 24 locations, including the DOC, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Defense Counterintelligence Command, to gather evidence in the case.

It has been reported that searches had also been conducted at the Office of National Security of the Presidential Administration in Yongsan and at the residence of Major General Kim Yong-dae, the head of the DOC.

In addition, the special prosecutor is considering the possible involvement of military personnel in covering up the drone operation.

According to the report, the special prosecutor obtained an audio recording of a military officer stating that Yoon personally instructed the DOC to prepare a drone mission across the border to Pyongyang between October and November of last year – just weeks before the announcement of martial law.

It is known that a small reconnaissance drone from the Republic of Korea Army had been used during the operation. Information about the violation of North Korean airspace was published by the Korean Central News Agency on October 13, 2024.

At that time, it was reported that South Korean reconnaissance drones had violated North Korean airspace three times in early October (on the 3rd, 10th, and 11th). They were spotted in the night sky over North Korea.

According to the publication, the drone was dropping propaganda leaflets, and North Korea described these flights as “dangerous provocations” that could escalate into armed conflict or even war.

Yoon is facing criminal charges of insurrection over the attempt to declare martial law. Media outlets suggest that he may have ordered senior military officials to send drones into North Korea last year as part of this plan, reports Yonhap. Former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has been detained for the second time in connection with the case involving the attempted illegal declaration of martial law late last year.