Recent reports suggest that both the civilian suspect who launched the drone into North Korea and the individual responsible for its creation have connections to President Yoon Suk Yeol’s administration.
According to a comprehensive News1 report on January 18, the joint military-police task force investigating the alleged drone incursion into North Korea questioned a man in his 30s, identified as A, on January 16. It was revealed that A previously served as a news monitoring staff member in President Yoon’s spokesperson’s office.
Another suspect, a graduate student in his 30s known as B, also reportedly worked as a contractor in the same office during Yoon’s presidency. Sources indicate that both suspects were employed at the presidential office during roughly the same period.
Suspect A was previously investigated for a drone crash incident in the Yeoju area last November. At that time, authorities found no national security concerns and referred the case to prosecutors for flying an unregistered drone, violating aviation security laws.
The drone A operated in Yeoju is reportedly the same model that recently breached North Korean airspace.
Both A and B, alumni of a private university in Seoul, co-founded a drone manufacturing company with support from their school. They served as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and director, respectively. During their college years, the pair participated in model aircraft competitions and automotive-themed invention contests, winning several awards.
The suspects also established a youth organization focused on Korean unification and were active members. Notably, B once led a conservative student group.
In a January 16 interview with Channel A, B disclosed that he had launched drones three times since last September, with dates matching two instances reported by North Korea.
Explaining his motives, B stated that he intended to measure radiation and heavy metal contamination from the uranium plant in North Korea’s Pyongsan County. He believed it was justifiable given my purpose. He didn’t conduct any surveillance of the military installations.
The joint task force is expected to further investigate B’s motives and the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Some analysts speculate that A and B may have acted to provoke North Korean military aggression. The Democratic Party of Korea has called for a comprehensive investigation, exploring all possibilities, including whether this was an isolated incident or if there were broader connections or influences at play.
The joint task force announced plans to release their final findings regarding A and B’s employment in President Yoon’s office. They stated that it will conduct a thorough review of applicable laws, the armistice agreement, and potential impacts on inter-Korean relations before determining appropriate actions.
Earlier, President Lee Jae Myung ordered a prompt and rigorous investigation, declaring on January 11 that if confirmed, these actions would constitute a serious threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula and national security.