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Travel Bans Issued in North Korea Drone Probe
SEOUL – A joint investigation team comprised of police and military officials has imposed travel bans on three civilian suspects in connection with alleged drone flights into North Korea. The announcement came Friday from sources close to the ongoing probe.
The individuals facing travel restrictions include a graduate student in his 30s, identified as Oh, who reportedly admitted to operating the drones. Also named are Jang, suspected of constructing the unmanned aerial vehicles, and a third individual who worked at a drone manufacturing company established by Oh and Jang.
The investigation commenced last week following North Korea’s claims of South Korean drone incursions in September and on January 4th, which Pyongyang asserted infringed upon its sovereignty. The South Korean military has denied involvement, stating that the drone models in question are not operated by their forces.
The suspects are accused of launching a drone from Ganghwa County, west of Seoul, with the intention of flying it into North Korea. Reports indicate the aircraft captured images of a South Korean Marine Corps base as it traversed the inter-Korean border. Investigators are seeking to charge the suspects with violations of the Aviation Safety Act and the Protection of Military Bases and Installations Act.
Investigative efforts intensified after Oh claimed responsibility for sending the drones to North Korea on the dates alleged by Pyongyang during a media interview broadcast last Friday.
The probe has expanded following revelations that Oh and Jang previously worked at the presidential office under former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Additionally, allegations have surfaced that Oh operated online news outlets purportedly linked to a military intelligence official.
The Defense Intelligence Command later confirmed a connection, informing ruling party Rep. Boo Seung-chan that the online news outlets were utilized to issue fake identification cards to assist agents in intelligence activities. However, Boo’s office stated that the command has yet to verify whether military intelligence officials were involved in the alleged drone flights.