Korea Joongang Daily
Korea JoongAng Daily

Military to acquire 11,000 commercial drones for training by end of this year

The military will seek to acquire some 11,000 commercial drones for training by the end of this year, the Ministry of National Defense said on Tuesday, as part of efforts to better utilize the cost-effective weapon system.

2026-04-14

Drone shows to illuminate Seoul's Han River parks through June 5

Drones will light up the Seoul sky at Han River parks across the city every other week with the "Han River Lights Show."

2026-04-08

Defense Ministry pivots from abolishing drone command to unit reformation

The Ministry of National Defense said Thursday it will push to reform the Drone Operations Command into a military unit tasked with overseeing drone policy and education, abandoning plans to abolish it.

2026-03-19

BTS marks comeback with New York drone light show, upcoming appearance on 'Jimmy Fallon'

Boy band BTS lit up the night sky over New York with a drone light show on Wednesday to mark its long-awaited comeback and the release of its fifth full-length album, “Arirang.”

2026-03-19

3 civilian suspects in drone flights to North Korea referred to prosecution

Investigators on Friday referred three civilian suspects to prosecutors on criminal charges of involvement in drone flights to North Korea. The joint team of police and military investigators sent the case to the prosecution.

2026-03-06

Iranian suicide drone attack on U.S. underscores 'North Korean Reaper' threat

Six U.S. troops were killed when an Iranian one-way attack drone struck a U.S. tactical operations center in Kuwait, the U.S. Central Command (Centcom) confirmed Tuesday.

2026-03-04

Defense Ministry to suspend budget of drone command over underperforming drones

The Ministry of National Defense said on Tuesday that it will tentatively suspend the Drone Operations Command's budget over a move to introduce more drones of the model that infiltrated North Korean airspace in 2024.

2026-03-03

North Korea drone flight suspect detained after arrest warrant hearing

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.

2026-02-27

North Korea drone flight suspect attends arrest warrant hearing

A graduate student accused of sending drones to North Korea appeared at a court Thursday to attend his arrest warrant hearing.

2026-02-26

Investigators seek arrest warrant for student linked to North Korea drone flights

Investigators said Friday they have requested an arrest warrant for a graduate student allegedly behind recent drone flights to North Korea.

2026-02-20