Did South Korea’s Ex-Leader Incite North Korea?

New Evidence Reveals Former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Alleged Drone Operations Over Pyongyang

South Korean prosecutors have uncovered new evidence suggesting that former president Yoon Suk Yeol ordered military drones to be deployed over Pyongyang. This revelation has sparked intense debate and raised questions about the motivations behind the alleged actions, with experts speculating that it could have been a calculated move to justify his controversial declaration of martial law.

The Investigation into Yoon’s Actions

The investigation into Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached for his role in the short-lived martial law decree, has revealed audio recordings of communications between the former president and the military regarding the drone operations. These incursions reportedly took place in October 2024, and analysts believe they were intended to provoke a response from North Korea.

According to Choo Jae-woo, a professor of foreign policy at Kyung Hee University, there are only two valid reasons for declaring martial law: external aggression or an invasion. He suggested that Yoon may have hoped to provoke North Korea into a military response, which he could then use as justification for imposing martial law. However, this plan did not unfold as expected, as North Korea did not retaliate militarily.

The Martial Law Declaration and Its Aftermath

Yoon declared martial law on December 3, claiming the need to protect the nation from “North Korean communist” and “anti-state” forces. Despite these claims, he provided no evidence to support them. His attempt to use the military to seize control of the government lasted only a few hours before he was impeached and suspended 10 days later. He was arrested in January and faces criminal charges for insurrection, which carry severe penalties.

Yoon has denied the charges, insisting that martial law was not a coup d’etat but rather a “peaceful message” to highlight the opposition’s intentions against the government. However, he has been questioned again in Seoul, and special prosecutors have filed a request for a new arrest warrant, citing allegations of abuse of power, falsification of official documents, violation of the presidential security act, and obstruction of official duties.

The Drones and Their Implications

In October 2024, there were reports of drones flying over Pyongyang, approximately 210 kilometers (130 miles) north of the Demilitarized Zone. North Korea claimed to have found the remains of one of the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) after it dropped propaganda leaflets. While the South Korean Defense Ministry initially rejected these claims, it later backtracked, stating it could not confirm or deny the reports.

North Korea threatened retaliatory strikes against the South in response to the propaganda leaflets, which it described as “inflammatory rumors and rubbish.” However, it did not launch any cross-border retaliation. A special investigation team obtained a recording in which a senior officer from the Drone Operations Command stated that the order for the operation came from “V,” the military’s term for the sitting president.

Escalating Tensions with North Korea

The drone incursions were part of a broader pattern of tit-for-tat exchanges between South Korea and North Korea during Yoon’s administration. Dan Pinkston, a professor of international relations at Troy University, noted that North Korea had been sending surveillance drones into the South and jamming GPS signals near the border, affecting flights at Incheon airport. In response, groups in the South sent balloons carrying propaganda leaflets, food, money, and medicine, while North Korea replied with balloons carrying trash.

However, Yoon’s order for military drones to penetrate North Korea’s airspace was more serious, as it violated the armistice that ended the Korean War. It also appears that the operation was conducted without informing the United States or the United Nations Command on the border.

The Risks of Yoon’s Actions

Pinkston emphasized that Yoon’s decision to deploy drones over Pyongyang could have led to a devastating war. He described the move as extreme and dangerous, putting South Korea’s territory, people, and national assets at risk in an attempt to consolidate authoritarian rule.

While the situation did not escalate into a full-blown conflict, the potential consequences were significant. Experts agree that Yoon’s actions were reckless and lacked a logical explanation, raising serious concerns about the stability of the region.