Drone Joint Military-Police Investigation TF Raids Three Suspects... Treason Charges Not Applied (Comprehensive)

The military-police joint investigation task force (TF) looking into North Korea's claim of a "South Korean drone infiltration" launched a compulsory investigation into three civilian suspects on January 21.

South Korean drone crashed in Jangpung County, Kaesong City, claimed by North Korea. Yonhap News Agency

The National Office of Investigation at the National Police Agency announced to the press that "from 8 a.m., we are executing search and seizure warrants at the residences and offices of three civilian suspects related to the drone incident, on charges of violating the Aviation Safety Act."

However, it has been reported that the search and seizure warrants did not specify charges of treason. Under general treason charges, anyone who harms military interests or provides military advantage to an enemy state can be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.

Park Sunwon, a Democratic Party lawmaker and former National Intelligence Service official, appeared on YTN Radio the previous day and stated, "The internet news outlet is definitely a front company for military operations," pointing out that the timing of Mr. Oh establishing a drone manufacturing company in September 2023 coincided with the creation of the military's drone operations command.

It has been found that Mr. Oh, currently a graduate student, and Mr. Jang, who manufactured the drone, both previously worked as contract employees at the Yongsan presidential office during the administration of former President Yoon Suk-yeol.

Mr. Oh and Mr. Jang, who are alumni from a private university in Seoul, served as CEO and director, respectively, at a drone manufacturing startup launched in 2024 with support from their university. In 2020, they also organized and participated together in a youth group related to unification.

In a broadcast interview on January 16, Mr. Oh publicly admitted to being the person who sent the drone to North Korea.

Mr. Oh also operated two internet media outlets reporting on North Korea. Allegations have surfaced that a commissioned officer from the Defense Intelligence Command used these two outlets as front companies for operations and provided approximately 10 million won in operational funds. The joint investigation TF did not search the two locations registered as offices of these outlets on this day.

Previously, a spokesperson for the General Staff of the Korean People's Army claimed in a statement on January 10 that North Korea had shot down drones infiltrated by South Korea in September of last year and on January 4. The Ministry of National Defense responded that the South Korean military does not possess the drones in question and stated it would thoroughly investigate the possibility that they were civilian drones.

President Lee Jaemyung stated, "If (the infiltration of civilian drones) is true, it is a serious crime that threatens peace on the Korean Peninsula and national security," and ordered the military-police joint investigation team to conduct a swift and thorough investigation.