A civilian suspect, who allegedly made a drone flown into North Korea, had a previous job at the South Korean presidential office under former President Yoon Suk Yeol. The man in his 30s, questioned by an investigative team, monitored news reports while working at Yoon’s presidential office. He is known to have collaborated with another man in his 30s who claims to have flown the drone into North Korea.
The suspect, accused of making the drone, was referred to prosecutors last November for violating aviation security regulations by flying an unregistered drone near Yeoju, south of Seoul. The drone used then is said to be the same one sent to North Korea. The two suspects attended the same university in Seoul, co-founded a drone manufacturing startup in 2024, and were involved in a youth organization related to unification in 2020.
The man under investigation for the alleged drone flight stated that the suspect made the drone at his request but was not part of its operation. Police are investigating the motive and circumstances of the case, including allegations of collusion in operating the drone. North Korea recently accused South Korea of violating its sovereignty through drone incursions, a claim denied by South Korea’s military, stating the drones were not operated by them.
