Seoul: A graduate student, accused of operating drones into North Korean airspace, was arrested Thursday after a court hearing on his warrant. He reportedly denied the principal charges against him during the hearing.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Seoul Central District Court judge approved the arrest warrant, citing concerns about the suspect's potential to flee or tamper with evidence. The suspect, known only by his surname, Oh, is charged with benefiting the enemy and violating aviation safety and military installation laws. These charges stem from allegations that he flew drones to North Korea on four occasions between September and January. The issue gained prominence after North Korea accused South Korea of drone incursions, claiming a breach of its sovereignty.
During the court hearing, Oh asserted that he acted independently and denied any connections to military intelligence. He argued against the charge of benefiting the enemy, which applies when a nation's military interests are compromised, by disputing claims that his actions endangered South Korea's military interests.
Oh's stance on his motives for the drone flights reportedly shifted during the hearing. Previously, he told media outlets that his objective was to assess radiation levels at a uranium facility in North Korea. However, at the hearing, he suggested that the information gathered was intended for research or business purposes.
The military-police investigation task force, which requested the arrest warrant last week, believes Oh conducted the flights to evaluate drone performance for commercial purposes. The drones were launched from Ganghwa Island in Incheon and were programmed to fly over North Korean regions, including Kaesong and Pyongsan, before returning to Paju, near Seoul.
Investigations continue to focus on seven individuals linked to the drone operations, encompassing Oh, other potential participants in drone production, and officials from military and intelligence agencies. Last month, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung ordered a comprehensive investigation by military and police forces amid suspicions of civilian involvement in the drone activities. Additionally, the Unification Ministry announced measures to prevent similar incidents, which were positively acknowledged by Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.