Military and police investigators have initiated a forced search operation targeting civilian suspects in the North Korean drone infiltration case, just 11 days after President Lee Jae Myung ordered the investigation.
The joint military-police task force (TF) reported that as of 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, they began executing search warrants at the homes and offices of three suspects linked to the drone incident, focusing on potential violations of aviation safety laws.
A TF spokesperson stated that they’re exploring all angles and will conduct a comprehensive investigation through analysis of seized evidence and suspect interrogations.
The three individuals identified as suspects are: a graduate student in his 30s, Mr. Oh, who claimed responsibility for sending drones to North Korea; Mr. Jang, who co-founded a drone startup, Company A, with Oh; and Mr. Kim, who served as a director at Company A.
During a broadcast on January 16, Oh disclosed that he had launched drones three times to measure radiation levels from a uranium facility in North Korea’s Pyongsan County. He reportedly enlisted his former classmate, Jang, to acquire and modify the drones.
Notably, Oh has been associated with conservative groups like the Korean University Student Forum. He also reportedly served as an unpaid intern in the presidential spokesperson’s office for about 6 months during the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, primarily monitoring news.
Jang, the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), is also said to have worked in the presidential spokesperson’s office around the same time as Oh.
On January 16, the TF brought Jang in for questioning as a person of interest. The recent searches targeted the suspects, whose status was elevated from persons of interest to formal suspects after police filed specific charges against them.
The incident came to light after North Korea’s state-run newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, published a statement on January 10 from the Korean People’s Army General Staff condemning the alleged intrusion of South Korean drones.
That same day, President Lee characterized the drone issue as a severe threat to Korean Peninsula stability and national security, directing the formation of a joint military-police investigative team to conduct a swift and thorough probe. In response, a joint task force of about 30 members has been operational since the 12th to carry out the investigation.