Home > National > Social Affairs

North Korea drone flight suspect detained after arrest warrant hearing

Published: 27 Feb. 2026, 13:39

A graduate student surnamed Oh, accused of sending drones into North Korea and escalating inter-Korean tensions, enters the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District, southern Seoul, on Thursday for an arrest warrant hearing on Feb. 26. [YONHAP]

A graduate student accused of flying drones into North Korea four times between September last year and January was detained on Thursday after a court cited flight risk and concerns over evidence destruction.

The student, surnamed Oh, faces charges of benefiting the enemy and violating aviation safety and military base-related laws.

Investigators say the drones were programmed to depart from Ganghwa Island in Incheon, fly over North Korea’s Kaesong and Pyongsan and return to Paju, Gyeonggi.

“Oh conducted the four flights to test the drone’s performance in pursuit of economic gains from a drone business,” the joint military-police investigative task force said. “By triggering North Korea’s denunciation statements and escalating inter-Korean tensions, Oh put the people of South Korea at risk, exposed military matters and caused changes in the military’s readiness posture.”

The task force sought a detention warrant on Feb. 19, and prosecutors filed the request the same day.

During Thursday’s arrest warrant hearing, Oh strongly denied the charge of benefiting the enemy.

“North Korea is not a foreign country subject to the charge,” Oh’s lawyer said. “Oh’s intention was not to benefit another country or an enemy state.”

Investigators are also examining whether the military or the National Intelligence Service (NIS) was involved. Three military officers and one NIS official have been booked on suspicion of links to the case.

“We deny any involvement by institutions,” the lawyer continued.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KIM NAM-JUN [[email protected]]