South Korea’s Former President Under Fire: Drone Operation Sparks Treason Investigation

South Korea’s special counsel on Thursday summoned Maj. Gen. Kim Yong-dae, head of the Drone Operations Command, as part of its investigation into insurrection and treason charges against former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The probe, led by Special Counsel Cho Eun-suk, is examining whether Yoon ordered a drone operation into North Korea in October 2024 to create a pretext for declaring martial law in December last year.

The investigation into Kim reportedly stems from military testimonies claiming that Yoon gave him direct orders, bypassing the Defense Ministry and the Joint Chiefs of Staff—the official chain of command.

According to one transcript, Kim allegedly said, “The order came from V” (referring to the president), and that it must be executed without informing the Defense Ministry or the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The transcript also includes statements suggesting that the drone carried propaganda leaflets and intentionally crashed to provoke a response from North Korea.

Investigators are also looking into allegations that Kim met with Yoon and then-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun at the presidential office in September 2024, a month before the operation, to discuss the plan.

Arriving at the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office around 10 a.m. Thursday, Kim denied receiving direct orders from Yoon regarding the drone operation over Pyongyang.

When asked whether the October mission had been ordered by the Joint Chiefs of Staff or discussed with the former defense minister, Kim avoided giving a direct answer, stating he would “sincerely respond to the special counsel’s questions.”

The Joint Chiefs of Staff also declined to confirm its involvement.

During a regular briefing on the same day, JCS spokesperson Col. Lee Sung-joon was asked whether the Joint Chiefs of Staff had been informed of the Pyongyang drone operation. He responded, “We cannot confirm. These matters should be clarified through the ongoing investigation.”

Investigators are also examining whether military officials engaged in a coordinated effort to conceal the operation.