Choo Mi-ae Claims "Our Military Sent Drones to North Korea... Provoking Tension to Justify Martial Law"

"Discovered Near the DMZ in December Last Year"
"Military Must Reveal the Truth Through Transparent Information Disclosure"

Choo Mi-ae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and head of the 'Yoon Seok-yeol Internal Revolt Investigation Team,' claimed that "a drone operated by our military was found near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) last December." She alleged that President Yoon sent a drone to North Korea to secure the pretext for the December 3 emergency martial law.

Chu Mi-ae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated on the 22nd that she received a report that the Army helicopter unit conducted threatening flights several times last year near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the West Sea. Yonhap News Agency

Choo cited data received from the Ministry of National Defense and the 119 Comprehensive Situation Room as evidence. On December 19 last year, at 9:04 a.m., after a report of a drone found on the rooftop of a building in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, the police responded and discovered a drone operated by our military. Regarding this, the military stated, "Although we cannot disclose the drone photos taken by the police at the time, we confirm that it was a drone operated by the Republic of Korea Armed Forces," according to Choo's office. Her office argued that this could indicate an attempt to send drones to North Korea to induce military tension around the second half of last year, coinciding with the emergency martial law period.

Choo said, "Despite suspicions of a North wind (Bukpung) inducement to create a pretext for martial law, the military has not provided any information, citing confidentiality," and added, "The military must reveal the truth through transparent information disclosure."

The military strongly denies the opposition party's claims of North wind inducement. On the 14th, Kim Myung-soo, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addressed allegations related to the December 3 emergency martial law incident, including the so-called 'North wind' manipulation and involvement in provoking 'foreign exchange' issues, stating, "The military is carrying out its sacred mission of national defense as stipulated in the Constitution," and strongly denied, "If you call these things North wind, everything could be engulfed by the North wind narrative."

"Apache Helicopters Reported Threatening Flights Near the NLL 7-8 Times Last Year"

Earlier, Choo also claimed that the military's Apache helicopters conducted threatening flights near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), provoking North Korean attacks. The Apache aviation battalions under the 1st and 2nd Aviation Brigades of the Army Aviation Command reportedly conducted about 7 to 8 threatening flights near the NLL last year and carried out reconnaissance missions on North Korea's frontline guard posts (GPs). Although they did not cross the NLL, they flew close enough to be exposed to North Korean forces, according to Choo. Regarding this, she pointed out, "Since operations were mainly conducted during the day, pilots reportedly discussed that it seemed they wanted North Korea to spot us rather than for reconnaissance purposes," and questioned, "Was this an attempt to provoke a North wind operation by risking lives through abnormal flights that could lead to being shot down or crashing?"