Two internet media outlets operated by a graduate student in his 30s, known as Mr. Oh, who claimed to have flown drones into North Korea, have resumed operations just a day after being shut down.
As of Wednesday morning, the websites NK Monitor and Global Insight are once again accessible. This comes after they abruptly blocked access the previous morning, citing a temporary suspension.
These outlets, which Mr. Oh registered as publisher last April, primarily focused on North Korean news and international affairs.
On Monday, Democratic Party Rep. Park Won-won alleged on YTN Radio that Mr. Oh received funding from a Military Intelligence Command officer while establishing these media outlets.
Rep. Park asserted that these internet media outlets are clearly fronts for military operations, noting that the timing of Mr. Oh’s drone manufacturing company’s creation in September 2023 coincides with the establishment of the military’s drone operations command.
He claimed the drone was intentionally sent to be detected, suggesting that the incident during President Yoon Suk Yeol’s administration is being used to create confusion and protect Yoon, drawing parallels to events during Lee Jae Myung’s tenure.
A joint military-police investigation task force (TF), formed on January 12, questioned a civilian in his 30s, identified as Mr. A, on January 16. Mr. A is believed to be the drone’s manufacturer.
Mr. Oh, a university colleague of Mr. A, claimed in a Channel A interview on January 16 that he had launched drones into North Korea on three separate occasions.
He stated that the purpose was to measure radiation and heavy metal contamination levels at a uranium plant in North Korea’s Pyeongsan County.
Rep. Park dismissed these claims, stating that the drone Mr. Oh sent was a 500,000 KRW (about 340 USD) model available online, incapable of carrying scientific detection equipment. It’s preposterous.
The joint TF plans to investigate whether the Military Intelligence Command managed Mr. Oh as a human intelligence asset and to uncover the motives and circumstances behind the drone flights.
Notably, no new articles have appeared on either site since 10:23 p.m. on January 11. Just one day prior, President Lee had ordered a joint military-police investigation into the drone incidents.