South Korea has imposed overseas travel bans on three civilians amid an inquiry into alleged drone flights into North Korea, raising tensions between the neighbors. One suspect, surnamed Oh, told media he flew drones to check radiation near a North Korean uranium facility; investigators have not confirmed all media reports linking the trio to a drone manufacturer or to past government contracts. Seoul denies state involvement and is probing civilian roles, while analysts warn Pyongyang may be escalating rhetoric ahead of its Workers’ Party congress. Officials stress the probe is ongoing and have called for a transparent investigation to avoid economic fallout.
South Korea Bars Overseas Travel For Three Civilians Amid Probe Into Alleged Drone Flights Into North Korea
FILE - A soldier stands at a North Korean military guard post with the country's national flag, seen from Paju, South Korea, June 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
South Korean authorities on Friday imposed overseas travel bans on three civilians as part of an investigation into alleged drone flights into North Korea, a move that has heightened tensions between the rivals.
Pyongyang earlier this month warned of retaliation after accusing Seoul of launching surveillance drone sorties in September and again in January. The South Korean government has denied that state forces operated drones on those dates and said it is investigating whether private citizens were responsible.
Investigation Details
A joint military and police investigation team said one of the three people barred from leaving the country is a man surnamed Oh. According to South Korean media and the investigation statement, Oh told reporters he flew drones to measure radiation near a North Korean uranium facility. Authorities declined to provide details about the other two civilians, saying only that one was recently summoned for questioning.
South Korean press reports say the three worked together at a drone manufacturer and that Oh and the person summoned served as contract employees in the office of then-conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol in 2022. The joint investigation team has not publicly confirmed those media accounts.
Political And Regional Implications
President Lee Jae Myung has urged a comprehensive and transparent probe, warning that needless tensions with North Korea could hurt South Korea's economy. Lee took office in June after a snap election that followed the early departure of Yoon, who was later dismissed amid controversy over his imposition of martial law in late 2024.
Analysts say North Korea’s accusations may be designed to stoke anti-South sentiment ahead of the ruling Workers’ Party congress expected in late January or February. During the congress, Pyongyang could formalize leader Kim Jong Un’s declaration of a hostile “two-state” system on the Korean Peninsula in the party constitution — a significant policy shift not seen in five years.
There have been no public inter-Korean talks since 2019, and drone incidents have become a recurring source of friction. In October 2024, North Korea accused South Korea of flying drones over Pyongyang to drop propaganda leaflets. Seoul, for its part, has accused the North of occasional drone incursions. In December 2022, South Korea fired warning shots, scrambled fighter jets and deployed surveillance drones after reporting North Korea’s first alleged drone flights across the border in five years.
What Officials Say: Investigators continue questioning suspects and reviewing evidence. Authorities have not yet publicly confirmed definitive links between the barred civilians and the flights accused by North Korea.
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