A decision on whether to detain a graduate student in his 30s, a person surnamed Oh, accused of sending drones to North Korea and stoking inter-Korean military tensions, could come as early as on the 26th.
At 10:30 a.m. on the day, Seoul Central District Court Director General Youngjang-only Judge Bu Dongsik opened a pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant review) for Oh.
Oh is accused under the Criminal Act of general aiding the enemy, violating the Aviation Safety Act, and violating the Military Bases Act. Prosecutors say that by sending drones to North Korea, Oh prompted North Korea to issue statements and heightened inter-Korean tensions, putting the public at risk.
The military-police joint investigation task force (TF) investigating the case believes Oh flew drones to North Korea four times from September last year to January this year to gain economic benefits from a drone business. The TF also concluded that Oh harmed military interests by triggering changes in North Korea's readiness posture.
A total of seven people have been booked as suspects in the case, including a soldier with the Defense Intelligence Command and an employee of the National Intelligence Service. Oh is the first person the TF moved to take into custody.
The fact that Oh flew drones to the North became known after North Korea claimed that South Korea had infiltrated drones multiple times. As the possibility of civilian drone operations was raised, President Lee Jae-myung ordered a stern joint investigation by the military and police.