Seoul: The special counsel investigating former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law imposition took decisive action on Monday by raiding the Drone Operations Command (DOC) and the defense ministry. This move indicates that the insurrection probe has now expanded into treason charges.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Yoon is currently facing a criminal trial on insurrection charges related to his failed martial law attempt. Media reports have raised suspicions that Yoon may have instructed senior military officials to send drones to North Korea last year as part of his plans to impose martial law.
The investigation team, led by special counsel Cho Eun-suk, deployed investigators to 24 locations, including the DOC in Pocheon, north of Seoul, and the Ministry of Defense in Seoul. They also visited the Defense Counterintelligence Command to gather evidence relevant to the case. Raids were conducted at the National Security Office within the presidential office in Yongsan and at the residence of Maj. Gen. Kim Yong-dae, head of the drone command.
The special counsel suspects that Yoon ordered the military to dispatch drones to Pyongyang last October with the intention of provoking North Korea, thereby creating a pretext for the Dec. 3 martial law declaration. This declaration was ultimately blocked by a National Assembly vote just hours later.
The investigation is also examining allegations of a military cover-up concerning the drone operation. The special counsel team has reportedly obtained a recording in which a military officer suggests that Yoon gave direct instructions to the drone command to prepare a mission across the border into Pyongyang between October and November last year, weeks before declaring martial law.
Additionally, the investigation is exploring claims that the DOC intentionally modified a drone to carry anti-Pyongyang leaflets, despite the known risk of it crashing. In October last year, North Korea reported finding the remains of a drone carrying such leaflets in its capital. The North accused Seoul of sending the drone and issued a warning against further provocations.