In a high-stakes escalation, South Korean authorities raided the residences and offices of three individuals Wednesday, probing their alleged role in drone incursions into North Korean airspace. This joint police-military effort highlights the fragile peace on the peninsula.
According to the National Office of Investigation, warrants under the Aviation Safety Act targeted the suspects starting at 8 a.m. The action follows North Korea’s explosive assertions of sovereignty violations via drones from Seoul in September and early January.
South Korea categorically rejects the charges, with its defense forces insisting they lack the specified drone technology. Investigators, keeping options open, questioned one suspect last Friday—the same day a grad student named Oh went public in an interview admitting to the flights.
Both Oh, 30, and his associate studied at the same Seoul university and once worked in Yoon Suk Yeol’s presidential office. In 2024, they launched a university-supported drone startup. Oh’s shuttered North Korea-focused news sites face allegations of masking spy activities.
Raiders hit the startup’s university premises, hauling away an unidentified item shrouded in white fabric. Built in an engineering lab, the drones lie at the heart of this controversy, as North Korea, via Kim Yo-jong, presses for accountability.
This unfolding drama not only tests bilateral relations but also exposes vulnerabilities in civilian drone tech amid military suspicions. With evidence mounting, South Korea aims to debunk Pyongyang’s narrative while safeguarding its security apparatus.